RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has made it unmistakably clear that he will not yield on his territorial demands in Ukraine, even as US President Donald Trump intensifies efforts to broker a peace settlement.
Speaking at the annual meeting of the Russian Defence Ministry, Putin struck a combative tone, criticising Ukraine’s European allies and warning that Russia would seize territory by force if diplomacy fails.
“We would prefer to do this, and eliminate the root causes of the conflict, through diplomacy,” CNN reported Putin saying, adding, “If the opposing country and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive discussions, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands through military means,” referencing the regions he is demanding Ukraine cede—a major obstacle in the ongoing peace negotiations.
The territorial question, alongside security guarantees for Ukraine, has proven highly contentious in talks, revealing sharp divergences between the priorities of Ukraine, the United States, Europe, and Russia.
Russia has illegally annexed parts of the Donbas region but has not yet achieved full control. Analysts from the US-based Institute for the Study of War estimate that at Russia’s current pace, full occupation of the region could take until August 2027.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirmed Kyiv’s position on Monday, insisting that Ukraine will not recognise the temporarily occupied eastern Donbas region as legally or de facto Russian.
He appeared to respond directly to Putin’s reference to “historical lands,” cautioning, “There are other countries in Europe that someone in Russia may one day call their ‘historical lands.’ We need real protection from this Russian history of madness.”
While Trump has expressed optimism about the prospect of a peace deal, claiming, “we’re closer now than we have been,” European allies remain more cautious, seeking robust security guarantees for Ukraine. Putin underscored this divide in his speech, noting that while Russia is “engaged in a dialogue with the US,” meaningful engagement with Europe under its current leadership is unlikely.
“I hope the same (engagement) will happen with Europe,” he said.
“It is unlikely that this is possible with the current political elites, but in any case, it will be inevitable as we continue to strengthen. If not with the current politicians, then when the current elites in Europe change.”
Putin’s remarks precede a pivotal summit in Brussels this week, where European leaders are set to debate whether to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine’s defence.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasised the continent’s responsibility for its own security, stressing the need to continue funding Ukraine.
“There is no more important act of European defence than supporting Ukraine’s defence. The next days will be a crucial step for securing this.
It’s up to us to choose how we fund Ukraine’s fight,” von der Leyen said. Two proposals are under consideration: one based on using frozen Russian assets and the other on borrowing. - December 18, 2025
