Putin: Russia Will Take Ukraine by "Force or Diplomacy"

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Moscow's goals in Ukraine will be met, whether through diplomatic negotiations or continued military force. In a significant public declaration, Putin framed the ongoing war as having only two possible endings. He presented negotiations not as an alternative to fighting, but as a potential tool to secure the same objectives. The Russian leader also mocked European governments, suggesting their policies have damaged their own economies and energy security since the conflict began. Putin did not specify what Russia's core goals are. Western leaders and Ukraine have repeatedly stated that Moscow's demands are unacceptable, as they would involve surrendering sovereign Ukrainian territory. The statement appears to reject the idea of a compromise peace, positioning any future talks as a ratification of Russian gains.