Putin Says Russia Advancing in Ukraine, Signals Openness to Peace Deal if Kyiv Compromises

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday maintained his hard-line position on the war in Ukraine, declaring that Russian forces continue to advance across the battlefield while signaling that a peace agreement remains possible if Kyiv accepts compromises previously discussed with US President Donald Trump.

Putin made the remarks during a meeting with foreign media editors on the sidelines of Russia’s annual economic forum, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly called for direct talks between the two leaders to negotiate an end to the conflict.

According to the Kremlin, Putin was aware of Zelensky’s open letter but had not yet reviewed it in detail. Trump, meanwhile, said a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders would be welcome.

More than four years into the largest land war in Europe since World War II, Putin argued that Russia retains the advantage in manpower, industrial capacity and political resolve. He said Russian forces continue to make steady gains and recently pushed Ukrainian troops out of nearly 2,500 square kilometers of territory.

“The offensive is ongoing on a daily basis,” Putin said.

The Russian leader claimed Moscow now controls all of Ukraine’s Luhansk region, more than 85 percent of Donetsk and roughly 80 percent of Zaporizhzhia. The territories are among four Ukrainian regions that Russia claimed to annex in 2022, a move rejected by Kyiv and most Western governments as illegal.

Putin acknowledged that Ukraine’s expanding drone capabilities pose a growing challenge and said Russia would continue strengthening its air-defense systems.

Western and Ukrainian military analysts have disputed Moscow’s assessment of the battlefield, arguing that Russian advances have slowed significantly and that Russia remains far from achieving its broader military objectives.

Despite the continued fighting, Putin said the war could end if Ukraine agreed to compromises discussed during his summit with Trump in Anchorage last year.

“Russia agrees to those compromises we discussed in Anchorage. The Ukrainian side must also agree to these compromises. Then the conflict will quickly come to a natural conclusion,” he said.

Although Putin did not specify the terms, his comments appeared to reference Russia’s longstanding demand that Ukraine cede the remainder of the Donbas region. Kyiv has repeatedly rejected such proposals, arguing they would leave the country vulnerable to future Russian aggression and affect the lives of hundreds of thousands of residents.

Putin said he remained committed to a diplomatic solution and suggested that European countries could use their influence to encourage Kyiv to negotiate.

Zelensky, however, argued that the responsibility for ending the war rests with the Kremlin. In his message to Putin, the Ukrainian president said Russia was increasingly feeling the impact of Ukrainian missile and drone strikes, inflation and economic pressures, and urged Moscow to choose peace.

Putin said that if a settlement is eventually reached, both sides should be able to acknowledge the end of the conflict with relief.

“At the very least we could — and indeed should — say, ‘Thank goodness it’s all over,’” he said.

The Russian leader also issued a warning about Moscow’s military capabilities, highlighting the Oreshnik hypersonic missile system. Putin said the weapon has so far been used only in test conditions and that Russia is still evaluating its performance before any broader operational deployment.

The nuclear-capable missile, first unveiled during the war, has a reported range of more than 5,000 kilometers. Putin has previously claimed it is impossible to intercept, though Western military experts have questioned that assessment.

Asked about his political future, Putin declined to discuss whether he would seek another term when his current mandate expires in 2030. While Russia’s constitution would allow him to run again and potentially remain in office until 2036, he said it was too early to focus on that question.

“The country faces a lot of large-scale and pressing issues,” Putin said. “They need to be solved while thinking about the future of Russia.”