Putin says Russia not seeking Ukraine’s surrender
(MENAFN) Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow is not seeking Ukraine’s surrender but rather demands recognition of the current realities on the ground. Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, Putin distinguished the Ukraine conflict from the escalating crisis in the Middle East, emphasizing that Russia’s objectives differ from calls for unconditional surrender, such as those made by US President Donald Trump regarding Iran.
When questioned about Russia’s military strategy and potential advances beyond the territories annexed in 2022 referendums, Putin hinted that, in a sense, all of Ukraine belongs to Russia. He reiterated his belief that Russians and Ukrainians are “one people” while affirming Ukraine’s right to independence.
Putin did not rule out the possibility of capturing the Ukrainian city of Sumy or extending the “buffer zone” meant to protect Russia’s borders further into Ukrainian land, although he said taking Sumy is not an explicit goal.
Russian forces entered Sumy Region earlier this year after repelling Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region last August. Putin said the buffer zone in Sumy is already 10-12 kilometers deep. He described Ukraine’s attack on Kursk as a disastrous operation that severely depleted Ukrainian forces, which are currently operating at only 47% of their full capacity. According to Putin, Ukraine suffered approximately 76,000 troop losses in that region.
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