Putin's ultimatum: Ukraine must surrender Donbas or face endless war

Russian President Vladimir Putin has framed the future of eastern Ukraine in uncompromising terms, stating that Moscow will either seize the regions by force or Kyiv must order a withdrawal. In an interview with India Today, Putin declared, "We will liberate Donbas and Novorossiya either by military means, or Ukrainian troops will leave these territories and stop fighting there." He used the historical term "Novorossiya" (New Russia) to refer to Ukrainian southern and eastern territories.

Details on US-Brokered Peace Negotiations

Putin described his recent five-hour meeting in Moscow with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as "very useful." He confirmed that discussions are based on a 28-point U.S. peace plan, which has been divided into four packages for negotiation. While acknowledging U.S. President Donald Trump's "sincere effort" to find a compromise, Putin characterized the process as "difficult work" with ongoing disagreements, stating no final agreement has been reached.

Putin's Narrative on the War's Origins

The Russian leader reiterated Moscow's justification for the conflict, claiming Russia had initially proposed that Ukrainian forces withdraw from Donbas to avoid war. "We immediately told Ukraine... withdraw your troops and there will be no military action. No, they prefer to fight," Putin stated, placing the onus for the war on Kyiv's choices. This narrative supports Russia's position that Ukrainian surrender of the territories is a legitimate outcome.

Related Threats and Statements from Other Leaders

In a related development, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev warned that any EU move to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine would be considered a casus belli (cause for war). Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump offered a cautiously optimistic view, saying his envoys gained the "impression" that Putin wants to end the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that any peace must account for Ukraine's interests, as preparations for new talks continue.