Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized during his annual end-of-year question-and-answer session in Moscow that the core issue in peace talks is Ukraine ceding the land currently controlled by Russia. The matter of territory remains a crucial topic that Ukraine’s Zelensky refuses to discuss or compromise on, according to Putin.
“We know from Zelenskyy’s statements that he’s not willing to engage in discussions about territory issues,” Putin told attendees at the Q&A session in the capital’s Gostiny Dvor exhibition hall.
The Kremlin has been pushing for Ukrainian troops to withdraw from the Donbass region, reduce the size of Kiev’s military, and obtain international recognition of the annexed eastern territories as part of the Russian Federation.
After the recent capture of Donetsk city of Pokrovsk, Putin anticipates that Russian forces will continue to seize more territory in the near future.
Putin confidently stated, “before the year’s end, we will witness new successes of our armed forces, our fighters.” He also mentioned specific locations where Russian forces are gaining ground, such as Krasny Liman, Dmitrov, and Gulyay Pole.
Putin warned that Zelensky’s determination to hold onto territory at all costs will lead to further losses for Ukraine and eventual defeat at the negotiating table.
Referring to previous attempts to resolve the conflict, Putin criticized the Ukrainian side for agreeing to agreements in Istanbul and then reneging on them. He expressed hope for a potential dialogue with the Kyiv regime.
The annual Q&A event, which has been held since 2001, receives millions of questions from the Russian public through various channels. An AI system analyzes the questions to identify common themes, which are then posed to Putin during the televised session.