Putin promises Russia will take control of Donbas region by any means necessary, while Ukrainians gear up for new US peace negotiations

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in an interview with Indian media that Moscow would take control of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine "by any means necessary," including through military action. This comment, reported by Russian state media, underscores one of Russia's main objectives as Ukrainian representatives prepare for another round of peace talks, which have yet to produce any concrete results.

Putin is expected to visit New Delhi on Thursday, where he will meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, just days after a meeting with a US delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials are traveling to the US, where they are set to engage in talks with American counterparts on strategies to end Russias ongoing invasion of Ukraine, according to a Ukrainian source familiar with the situation.

In an interview with India Today, ahead of the summit with Modi, Putin emphasized that Russia would "liberate Donbas and Novorossiya by any means, whether military or otherwise," referencing territories in eastern Ukraine and the historical region of Novorossiya. This term, revived by Putin, was used in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea. The Donbas region has been a focal point of Russia's demands, with Moscow seeking full control over the area, despite its illegal annexation of parts of it.

Putin also shared details about his meeting earlier this week with Witkoff and US President Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, describing it as a lengthy discussion where both sides addressed various aspects of the peace proposals. However, Putin stated that Russia did not agree with all points raised in the US plan, calling the discussions "difficult." He reiterated Russia's demand for Ukraine to withdraw its forces from Donbas and cease military operations in the region.

Ukrainian officials have rejected Russia's conditions, which they consider non-negotiable. Despite the lack of a breakthrough, Trump expressed optimism after the meeting, stating that the US delegation believed Putin "would like to see the war ended." Both parties have remained tight-lipped on any progress made in the talks, although Putin's foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov, confirmed that territorial issues were discussed, calling them central to any potential resolution. He also mentioned that some aspects of the US proposals were "more or less acceptable," while others were "unsuitable."

Ukrainian negotiators, including Rustem Umerov, head of the Ukrainian delegation, and Andrii Hnatov, the Chief of the General Staff, are traveling to Miami on Thursday for further discussions with US officials. This new round of talks follows a previous meeting between US and Ukrainian representatives that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized as "productive," with progress on certain issues.

Author: Noah Whitman