Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his firm assertion that Russia will “absolutely” achieve its stated goals from its military operation in Ukraine, including full control of the territories it considers part of its own, indicating that this goal will be achieved either through diplomatic means or by military force if necessary.
These strong statements came during a meeting with senior Defense Ministry officials in Moscow, where Putin said, “The objectives of the special military operation will certainly be achieved.” He added, explaining Moscow’s dual approach, “We prefer to do this and eradicate the root causes of the conflict through diplomatic means.” However, he then vowed to resort to military action to regain control of the territories annexed by Moscow if “the hostile state and its foreign backers refuse to engage in substantive negotiations.”.
Background to the conflict and escalating tensions
The roots of this conflict extend far beyond the start of the military operation in February 2022. In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea following a referendum not recognized by the international community, which was followed by an armed conflict in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian forces and Moscow-backed separatists. At the launch of its military operation, Russia declared its objectives to include “demilitarizing Ukraine and eradicating Nazism” and protecting the Russian-speaking population. In September 2022, Moscow annexed four more Ukrainian regions (Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia) after holding referendums that Kyiv and the West deemed sham and illegal, despite not having full military control over these territories.
International dimensions and effects of the conflict
The repercussions of the war were not limited to Ukraine and Russia; they extended to create a multifaceted global crisis. On the humanitarian front, the war triggered the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, in addition to causing massive destruction of Ukrainian infrastructure. Geopolitically, it led to unprecedented economic sanctions against Russia by the United States, the European Union, and their allies, and prompted historically neutral countries like Finland and Sweden to join NATO, further escalating tensions on Russia's western borders. Economically, the conflict caused significant disruptions in global energy and food markets, impacting the cost of living worldwide.
Stalled diplomatic efforts
Putin’s remarks come as diplomatic efforts continue on several fronts. Ukraine recently indicated progress in talks with US administration envoys regarding “security guarantees,” a formula Kyiv seeks to use to secure pledges of protection from major powers as an alternative to immediate NATO membership. However, the biggest obstacle to any settlement remains the territorial issue, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting on restoring his country’s sovereignty over all its territory as it existed in 1991, a position Moscow categorically rejects. In this context, the Kremlin stated it is awaiting a briefing from Washington on the outcome of its talks with both the Ukrainian and European sides, thus keeping the door open for dialogue, albeit under the constant threat of military escalation.
