Putin sticks to hardline stance on war in Ukraine but says Trump ideas could bring peace

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – President Vladimir Putin maintained his hardline stance on the war in Ukraine on Thursday, claiming that Russian troops were advancing daily on the battlefield. At the same time, he suggested that U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposals for peace could end the fighting if Kyiv was willing to compromise.

Putin made his remarks to foreign media editors, including Reuters, on the sidelines of Russia’s annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The comments came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy published an open letter inviting Putin to meet and negotiate an end to the war, warning that Kyiv was prepared to continue fighting otherwise. The Kremlin said Putin had seen the message but had not yet examined it in detail. Trump expressed support, saying it would be “great” if the two leaders met.

Russian Advances and Military Claims

In the fifth year of Europe’s deadliest land war since World War II, Putin asserted that Russia’s manpower, industrial resources, and willpower were on its side. He claimed that Russian forces had recently recaptured nearly 2,500 km (1,553 miles) of territory. He also noted that Moscow would enhance its air defenses to counter the growing threat of Ukrainian drone attacks.

Despite Putin’s claims, some Western and Ukrainian military analysts argue that Russian advances have slowed significantly and that Russia remains far from achieving its stated military objectives. Putin, however, remained bullish:

“The offensive is ongoing on a daily basis. At present, the Russian Federation has taken full control of the Luhansk People’s Republic — 100%. And Russia has brought over 85% of the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic under its control. (And) 80% of the territory of the Zaporizhzhia region,” he said, referring to three of the four regions Moscow claimed as its own in 2022 — a move widely rejected as illegal by Kyiv and most Western countries.

He added that instead of halting the advance, a better solution would be to bring the war to an end through compromise, referencing discussions he had with Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, last year.

Donbas and Compromise

Putin’s remarks appeared to reiterate Moscow’s demand that Ukraine surrender the remaining parts of its eastern Donbas region, including two entire regions — a proposal Zelenskiy has rejected, warning it would endanger hundreds of thousands of people and leave Ukraine vulnerable to further Russian attacks.

Putin indicated that Kyiv would need to compromise and suggested that, while Trump was preoccupied with the Iran situation, the European Union could play a role in encouraging Ukraine to negotiate.

Zelenskiy, in his letter, emphasized that the decision to end the war rested with Putin. He argued that Russians had grown weary of Ukrainian missile and drone attacks, rising inflation, and fuel shortages, and were ready for peace. The Ukrainian president warned that Putin’s own political future could be at stake if he failed to make the right choice.

“We are certainly prepared and willing to reach an agreement with Ukraine through peaceful means. Specifically, on the basis we discussed during our meeting with President Trump in Anchorage. Russia agrees to those compromises we discussed in Anchorage. The Ukrainian side must also agree to these compromises. Then the conflict will quickly come to a natural conclusion,” Putin said.

He added, somewhat philosophically:

“As for what we might say to one another if we were to reach the end of the conflict, at the very least we could — and indeed should — say, ‘Thank goodness it’s all over.’”

Hypersonic Weapon Warning

Putin also issued a warning regarding Russia’s Oreshnik hypersonic missile, which has nuclear capability and a range of over 5,000 km (3,100 miles). He stated that it had only been test-fired under controlled conditions and had not yet been used in real combat, hinting at potential future deployment, including against urban targets. Western experts have questioned Russia’s claims that the missile is impossible to intercept.

Political Future and Constitutional Limits

When asked about his political future beyond his current term, which ends in 2030, Putin said his health was in God’s hands. He noted that the constitution allows him to run again and potentially serve until 2036, but he considered it too early to discuss such plans.

“The country faces a lot of large-scale and pressing issues. They need to be solved without thinking about it, but thinking about the future of Russia,” he said.

-Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin, Dmitry Antonov, Anastasia Lyrchikova, Darya Korsunskaya, Maxim Rodionov, Gleb Stolyarov, Ron Popeski; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Daniel Wallis, and Matthew Lewis/Reuters