international_relations

Putin: Russia Will Seek to Expand Its Gains in Ukraine if Peace Talks Fail

December 17, 2025 shorouknews.com
Putin: Russia Will Seek to Expand Its Gains in Ukraine if Peace Talks Fail

Putin warns of Russia expanding its gains in Ukraine if peace talks fail.

SUMMARY

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow will expand its gains in Ukraine if Kyiv and its allies reject the Kremlin's demands in peace talks, emphasizing that Russia prefers diplomatic solutions but is prepared to use military force.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Putin warns of Russia expanding its gains in Ukraine if peace talks fail.
  • Putin emphasizes Moscow's preference for diplomatic solutions but threatens military force.
  • Russia demands sovereignty over several Ukrainian regions, which Kyiv rejects.
  • U.S. President Trump launched diplomatic efforts to end the conflict but faced conflicting demands.

CORE SUBJECT

Russia's stance on peace talks in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday that Moscow will seek to expand its gains in Ukraine if Kyiv and its Western allies reject the Kremlin's demands in peace talks.

U.S. President Donald Trump launched an intensive diplomatic effort to end nearly four years of fighting following Russia's full-scale operation in Ukraine in February 2022, but Washington's efforts faced highly conflicting demands from Moscow and Kyiv.

Putin stated in an annual meeting with senior military officers that Moscow prefers to achieve its objectives and "eradicate the root causes of the conflict" through diplomatic means, but added that "if the opposing side and its foreign sponsors refuse to engage in a substantive dialogue, Russia will liberate its historic territories by military means."

Ukraine and its Western allies consider Russia's actions a violation of its sovereignty and an unjustified aggression.

Putin claimed that the Russian army has taken and firmly holds the strategic initiative along the front line, warning that Moscow will move to expand a "buffer security zone" along the Russian border.

It is noted that Russia demands sovereignty over the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, which Kyiv rejects.

KEYWORDS

Putin Russia Ukraine peace talks conflict Kremlin Kyiv Trump

MENTIONED ENTITIES 8

Vladimir Putin

👤 Person_Male

Russian President

Donald Trump

👤 Person_Male

Former U.S. President

Moscow

📍 Location_City

Capital of Russia

Kyiv

📍 Location_City

Capital of Ukraine

Luhansk

📍 Location_City

Ukrainian region claimed by Russia

Donetsk

📍 Location_City

Ukrainian region claimed by Russia

Zaporizhzhia

📍 Location_City

Ukrainian region claimed by Russia

Kherson

📍 Location_City

Ukrainian region claimed by Russia