Russia Ukraine War: Putin’s Stern Warning — “If Peace Talks Fail, Moscow Will Push Its Military Advantage Further”
Russia Ukraine War: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday delivered his toughest statement yet on the Ukraine war during the annual meeting of the Ministry of Defence. He issued a clear warning that if peace negotiations collapse, Russia will intensify its military campaign and deepen its strategic advantage inside Ukraine.
Putin said Russia has so far remained committed to a diplomatic path, but if Ukraine and its Western backers refuse to accept Moscow’s conditions, “Russia will achieve its objectives through military force.”
“Our Army Has Been Tempered in Battle, There Is No Stopping It Now”
Addressing senior military commanders at the defence meeting, Putin claimed Russian forces currently hold a strategic advantage across the entire фронт. He asserted that Russia has “liberated” more than 300 towns and settlements in Ukraine so far this year.
He said, “Today our army has been hardened in combat. There is no other army like it in the world. Russia has passed a decisive phase in the Ukraine conflict in 2025.”
The president also indicated that Russia would further expand its so-called “security buffer zone” along the border to protect Russian territory from Ukrainian shelling.
Putin claimed that despite advanced weapons, drones, and training supplied by Western countries, “the Russian army is gradually grinding down the enemy.”
Europe Called “War-Obsessed,” Warned to “Face the Consequences”
In his speech, Putin targeted European leaders, saying Europe had hoped to celebrate Russia’s downfall but now finds itself trapped in a strategic crisis. He dismissed European warnings as “lies and nonsense” and said that if Western countries want war, “Russia is ready.”
Putin’s aggressive remarks come at a time when talks involving Europe, the United States, and Ukraine over an American peace proposal are at a critical stage. An important meeting is expected in Brussels in the coming days to discuss the use of Russian assets for Ukraine’s reconstruction. Russia has already described the proposal as an attempt at “plunder.”
Nuclear Readiness and Announcement of ‘Oreshnik’ Missile Deployment
During the address, Putin also highlighted Russia’s expanding military capabilities, specifically mentioning a new intercontinental ballistic missile named “Oreshnik.” He said the missile would be placed on combat duty by the end of December 2025.
Russia used a conventional version of the missile in November 2024 against an industrial center in Ukraine. According to defence experts, even the conventional variant of Oreshnik has destructive power comparable to a low-yield nuclear weapon.
Sources say Russia has begun large-scale production of the missile and is working on plans for its possible deployment in Belarus. The move is being seen as a direct challenge not only to Eastern Europe but to the entire NATO alliance.
Deadlock in Peace Talks, Putin’s “Red Lines” Remain
The Russian president made it clear that any peace agreement would require Ukraine to accept Russia’s territorial demands. These include recognition of Crimea, annexed in 2014, as well as the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions as official parts of Russia.
In addition, Putin reiterated that Ukraine must abandon its ambition to join NATO. He warned that the presence of Western troops or military instructors in Ukraine would be considered “legitimate military targets.”
On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has recently indicated that Kyiv could consider Western security guarantees in place of NATO membership, but he has described Russia’s territorial demands as “completely unacceptable.”
U.S. Mediation and Inconclusive Meetings
According to sources, U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner recently held talks with the Putin administration in Moscow. However, the meeting ended without any concrete outcome.
The American draft “19-point plan” included proposals for a ceasefire, humanitarian corridors, and a framework for an agreement on the Donbas region. Russia, however, rejected the plan. Moscow’s position is that “Kyiv cannot be a credible negotiating partner as long as it remains under Western pressure.”
Meanwhile, the European Union is exploring the possibility of using frozen Russian assets to purchase weapons for Ukraine. This proposal has further escalated tensions, as Russia has already warned that any such move would be considered “an act of economic warfare.”
The Next Phase of the War
Putin’s statement comes at a time when Russia has made several significant advances on the battlefield in 2025. On the eastern and southern fronts, Russian forces have weakened Ukrainian defensive lines. Many analysts believe that if peace talks stall in the coming weeks, Russia could further expand its “security buffer zone,” increasing Russian control over eastern parts of Ukraine.
Western intelligence agencies estimate that Russia has around 500,000 troops actively deployed on forward fronts, while the Ukrainian military continues to rely heavily on Western assistance and training.
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