Vladimir Putin has complicated Donald Trump’s proposed peace deal to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, insisting that Russia will not agree to peace unless Kyiv withdraws its forces.
Since assuming office for a second term earlier this year, Trump has been actively attempting to resolve various global conflicts in hopes of securing a Nobel Peace Prize.
One of the most challenging conflicts remains the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, now the deadliest in Europe since World War II.
Initially, the US President suggested a 28-point plan that heavily favored Russia. This plan required Kyiv to surrender territory, reduce its military, and abandon future NATO membership to achieve peace.
Unsurprisingly, Ukraine rejected this proposal. However, with further input from US and European advisors, a revised proposal was accepted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday.
While the specifics of the revised plan weren’t disclosed, Ukraine’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya mentioned that the draft left both parties feeling “positive.”
However, getting Ukraine’s approval was only part of the challenge, as Russia disapproved of the proposals, leading to a frank response from Putin.
The Russian president stated on Thursday that if Ukraine does not vacate the areas Moscow claims, they will be forced to use military measures to achieve their aims.
“Some people demand to fight until the last Ukrainian dies, Russia is ready for that,” he warned.
“Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the territories they hold, and then the fighting will cease.
“’If they don’t leave, then we shall achieve this by armed means. That’s it.”
The Russian military has been gradually advancing through eastern Ukraine in a brutal and costly battle with significant casualties on both sides.
“If Ukrainian forces leave the territories they hold, then we will stop combat operations,” Putin said at a press conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
“If they don’t, then we will achieve it by military means.”
Currently, Russia occupies about a fifth of Ukraine’s territories. However, Kyiv has consistently refused to surrender this land even in pursuit of peace.
Moscow initiated its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands and displacing millions over nearly four years of conflict.
Despite the high financial and human cost, Putin has indicated some willingness to end the war by acknowledging that a potential peace plan is feasible.
“In general, we agree that this can be the basis for future agreements,” he said regarding the US proposal. However, unresolved issues, particularly concerning disputed territories, remain a significant obstacle.