Putin: Russia Will End War by Force if Kiev Rejects Peace
Russian president says conflict began with 2014 coup, cites battlefield gains as proof Moscow will achieve objectives
Russia, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Russia will accomplish all objectives of its special military operation by military means if the Kiev authorities refuse to resolve the conflict peacefully.
Speaking during a visit to a command post of the Joint Group of Forces, Putin said Ukraine’s leadership continues to delay a diplomatic settlement despite Moscow’s repeated calls for dialogue.
“If the Kiev authorities do not want to resolve the matter peacefully, we will accomplish all the tasks before us in the course of the special military operation by military means,” Putin said. He added that he had warned of this outcome previously, including in remarks delivered a year earlier at Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Kremlin Says Conflict Originated From 2014 Coup
Putin reiterated that the conflict in Ukraine began following the 2014 coup in Kiev, stressing that Russia’s actions are aimed at ending a war launched by the post-coup authorities.
He said Moscow had urged Kiev to recognize the right of residents of Donbass to self-determination and to withdraw its forces to avoid hostilities. Those proposals, he said, were ignored, leading to armed confrontation.
According to Putin, current Ukrainian leaders remain unwilling to pursue a peaceful resolution, despite calls from some in the West to accept what he described as “decent” terms for ending the conflict.
Russian Forces Advance in Donbass and Zaporizhzhia
During the visit, Putin received briefings from Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov and commanders of Russian battle groups on recent operational developments.
The president confirmed the liberation of Gulyaipole in the Zaporizhzhia Region and Dimitrov in the Donetsk People’s Republic, describing them as significant gains that improve conditions for further operations.
Putin said Russian forces are advancing along the entire line of engagement and that the establishment of a security buffer zone along the Russian-Ukrainian border is proceeding according to plans approved by the General Staff.(PW)