Putin: Russia's goals in Ukraine will be achieved by force or diplomacy
In a new escalation of the political and military tone, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that his country is proceeding with achieving all its goals from the military operation in Ukraine "with absolute certainty," presenting the international community with two options: either diplomatic solutions that guarantee Moscow's conditions, or a decisive military force to impose a fait accompli.
Putin’s remarks came during an expanded meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Defense in Moscow, where he stressed that the Kremlin prefers to “eradicate the main causes of the conflict through diplomatic means,” but at the same time warned that Russia would not hesitate to use its military arsenal to control the territories it considers to be under its sovereignty, should what he called the “hostile state” and its Western sponsors refuse to engage in serious and substantive negotiations.
Historical context and geopolitical dimensions
These statements reinforce Russia's unwavering stance since the outbreak of the war on February 24, 2022. Moscow bases its current demands on the constitutional measures it took in September 2022, when it officially annexed four Ukrainian regions: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, in addition to the Crimean Peninsula, which it annexed in 2014. Although Russian forces do not have full military control over the borders of these administrative regions, the Kremlin considers defending and controlling them an integral part of Russian national security and the objectives of its "special operation.".
Diplomatic efforts and security guarantees
Putin's threats coincide with intense diplomatic activity behind the scenes, with Ukrainian reports indicating progress on the issue of "security guarantees" for Kyiv, following talks in Berlin between Ukrainian officials and envoys of US President-elect Donald Trump. The Ukrainian side is seeking concrete guarantees to prevent a recurrence of the attack, while Washington is pushing for a formula to end the fighting that may involve difficult territorial concessions.
According to leaks, the initial US proposal called for the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Donetsk region and de facto recognition of Russian control over the annexed territories, which remains a fundamental point of contention, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stating that disagreements still exist, particularly regarding the issue of ceding territory.
International anticipation for the outcome of the negotiations
For his part, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that Moscow is awaiting information from Washington regarding the outcome of the Berlin talks, saying, "We expect our American counterparts to inform us of the results as soon as their vision is formulated with the Ukrainian and European sides." This statement reflects a Russian desire to ascertain the extent to which the West is prepared to accept the new reality on the ground in exchange for a ceasefire.
Observers believe that Putin’s insistence on achieving his goals “by force” aims to improve his negotiating position before any possible settlement, while emphasizing that Russia has the stamina and the necessary military capabilities – including hypersonic missiles – to continue the war if its security concerns and territorial demands are not met.
