Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Russia is prepared to take control of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region “by force or otherwise,” intensifying tensions just ahead of his trip to India. Speaking to India Today TV, Putin reiterated Russia’s territorial demands, casting doubt on prospects for a negotiated peace despite recent talks with U.S. negotiators, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Putin Doubles Down on Maximalist Demands

According to statements carried by state news agency Tass, Putin confirmed that no agreement had been reached during Moscow talks, saying:

“It all boils down to this: either we will liberate these territories by force, or Ukrainian troops will leave these territories and stop fighting there.”

This stance appears to contradict former U.S. President Donald Trump’s earlier claims that U.S. envoys believed Putin was willing to “make a deal” to end the war.

Background: Russia’s Invasion and Territorial Ambitions

Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, following eight years of conflict between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces in the Donbas, which includes the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Since then, Russia has seized 19.2% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, all of Luhansk, more than 80% of Donetsk, and parts of Kherson, Zaporizhia, Kharkiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, and Dnipropetrovsk.

Despite these advances, Ukrainian forces continue to hold key positions, including approximately 5,000 square kilometers of Donetsk, with Ukrainian troops maintaining control over northern Pokrovsk.

Peace Talks and the Controversial 28-Point Plan

Putin’s comments came amid discussions of a controversial 28-point peace plan proposed by Trump and his team, which initially envisioned Ukraine ceding the entire Donbas, limiting its military, and abandoning NATO aspirations. Following criticism, Ukrainian negotiators revised the draft to 19 points.

Putin suggested the plan remains under discussion, stating:

“They just broke these 28 or 27 points into four packages. And they proposed discussing these four packages with us. But, in effect, they are the same points.”

U.S. envoys are reportedly set to meet Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov in Florida to follow up on the Moscow talks.

Ongoing Russian Attacks on Ukrainian Cities

The military conflict continues unabated, with Russian strikes targeting civilian areas. On Wednesday night, a ballistic missile hit Kryvyi Rih, injuring six people, including a three-year-old girl. Russian artillery killed a six-year-old girl in Kherson, while drone attacks in Odesa injured eight civilians and damaged energy infrastructure.

The Russian Foreign Ministry, through spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, accused Ukraine of sabotaging peace efforts by attacking oil tankers in the Black Sea and the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal in Novorossiysk.

Implications for Ukraine and Global Diplomacy

Putin’s renewed insistence on seizing the Donbas by force complicates efforts to broker a diplomatic resolution. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy maintains that he cannot legally cede Ukrainian territory, and the constitution forbids any concessions to Russian demands.

Analysts warn that continued Russian aggression threatens regional stability and could prolong the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, which has already seen extensive civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.