Putin Seeks Final Peace Deal, Not Short-Term Truce, Stating Eastern Ukraine Is 'Russian Land'

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on the 22nd (local time) regarding an end to the war in Ukraine that he wants a final settlement to end the conflict rather than a short-term truce, adding that security across Europe must also be addressed.

According to Reuters, Putin made the remarks during an interview with Russian media on the same day, stating his willingness to return next month to peace talks with Ukraine mediated by the United States.

"The goal of the talks is not a short-term, temporary cease-fire, but rather ensuring the security of both Ukraine and Russia after a final peace agreement is concluded," Putin said. "We are ready to resume talks to achieve these objectives."

Putin's remarks came a day after he met with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff the previous day to discuss the resumption of trilateral peace negotiations among the United States, Russia, and Ukraine.

He stated that Special Envoy Witkoff emphasized that future peace talks should be expanded to include a "pan-European security architecture," and added that he also agrees with this comprehensive vision.

Putin reiterated his previous stance that Russia did not want the war, but that Ukraine responded hostilely to major issues of concern to Russia.

He also emphasized that the territory of eastern Ukraine is "historically Russian land" and that any discussions regarding it must take this fact into account.

He further claimed that residents of the region chose to be incorporated into Russia in a referendum held seven months after the outbreak of the war.

Key issues regarding the end of the war in Ukraine remain largely focused on territorial matters.

Russia demands that Ukraine cede the entirety of the eastern Donbas region, but Ukraine strongly rejects demands to give up territory.

Russia and Ukraine held trilateral talks mediated by the United States earlier this year, but failed to find a compromise over territorial issues and other matters, after which negotiations fell into a deadlock as the U.S. attention was diverted by the war in Iran.

However, attention is focused on whether future trilateral talks can yield results, as President Trump recently pressured Ukraine by unilaterally announcing an "energy truce."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Special Envoy Witkoff on the 20th and stated that he supports "all proposals regarding a cease-fire, the end of the war, an energy truce, and humanitarian measures," adding that Ukraine is ready to participate in trilateral talks.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.