Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his country’s desire for a “lasting and stable peace” in Ukraine, but insisted that Moscow’s original conditions for ending the war remain unchanged.
Speaking during a joint press briefing with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Friday, Putin made it clear that Russia is not backing down from its key demands, even as Kyiv continues to call for direct talks to resolve the conflict.
Putin stated that peace must be based on “solid foundations” that would satisfy both nations and guarantee their long-term security.
However, he stressed that Russia’s position, including its demand for recognition of sovereignty over four annexed Ukrainian regions, was non-negotiable. “The conditions from the Russian side certainly remain the same,” he said.
The comments come amid renewed pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who earlier in the week issued a 10-day ultimatum urging Putin to halt military operations in Ukraine or face expanded Western sanctions and diplomatic isolation.
Trump has also publicly condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine as “disgusting,” increasing the diplomatic stakes in a war that has now lasted over three and a half years.
Ukraine, meanwhile, continues to rally international support. President Volodymyr Zelensky has been calling for increased military aid and fresh sanctions on Russia and its allies.
On Friday, Zelensky again extended an invitation for high-level peace talks with Putin, stating on social media that “Ukraine is ready to meet at the level of leaders at any time.”
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He underscored that meaningful negotiations could only happen if the Kremlin is prepared to make real compromises.
Despite Kyiv’s overtures, Russia appears to be doubling down. During the same press conference, Putin confirmed that Russia has begun mass production of the Oreshnik, a hypersonic missile with nuclear capabilities.
The missile, which was used to strike the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro last year, could soon be deployed in Belarus, a close ally of Moscow.
“Both Belarusian and Russian military specialists have chosen a location for future positions of the Oreshnik missile system,” Putin revealed. “Work is now underway to prepare these positions. Most likely, we will close this issue by the end of the year.”
The conflict began in early 2022 when Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, prompting widespread global condemnation.
In 2023, Moscow declared its annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, moves Kyiv and most of the international community refuse to recognise.
Since then, the war has dragged on with no clear end in sight, devastating cities, crippling economies, and leading to tens of thousands of casualties.
Vanguard
