Putin says territories lost by Kyiv are ‘historically Russian lands’ and insists Russia will achieve all its war goals
Russian President Vladimir Putin said territories lost by Kyiv during the war were not Ukrainian territory but “historically Russian lands,” while insisting Moscow would achieve all of the objectives it set for its invasion.
Putin made the remarks in an interview with Russian state television correspondent Pavel Zarubin published Thursday, a day after talks in St. Petersburg with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
Putin said Russia had sought since 2014 to persuade Kyiv to reach an agreement with separatist-controlled parts of eastern Ukraine and accused Ukrainian authorities of choosing military force instead. He also blamed Kyiv for the failure of the Minsk agreements, saying Ukraine refused to reach an accommodation with regions that opposed the change of government in 2014.
Moscow backed armed separatists in eastern Ukraine after Russia seized Crimea in 2014. The Minsk agreements failed to produce a lasting settlement, with Russia and Ukraine each accusing the other of violating them.
Putin said Russia remained prepared to negotiate because Ukrainians were a people “very close” to Russians. Citing unspecified recent genetic studies, he added: “In fact, we are one people.”
“I think that we can reach an agreement,” Putin said. But he added that if negotiations failed, Russia would continue militarily: “In any case, we will accomplish our tasks, and all the goals of the special military operation will be achieved.”
Putin also confirmed Russia’s readiness to resume trilateral contacts with Ukraine and the United States. He said the talks should address security arrangements for both Russia and Ukraine after a peace agreement.
The Kremlin said Wednesday that Putin had agreed in principle to restart trilateral negotiations after November 10 following his meeting with Witkoff. Previous U.S.-Ukraine-Russia talks produced prisoner exchanges but no breakthrough on territory or the terms of a ceasefire.