Putin issued a stark warning on Saturday, saying Ukraine is “in no hurry” to end the war peacefully, a day after heavy Russian drone and missile attacks on Kyiv and ahead of planned talks between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Speaking to Russian state media, Vladimir Putin said that if Kyiv rejects negotiations, Russia would pursue the goals of its “special military operation” by military means.
Putin’s Warning After Kyiv Attacks
Putin’s remarks came hours after overnight barrages that Ukraine said involved hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles striking Kyiv and surrounding regions. Ukraine reported at least one death and dozens wounded.
Zelenskyy responded by calling the bombardment “Russia’s answer to our peace efforts,” arguing the attacks show Moscow’s intent to prolong the conflict even as Kyiv seeks a negotiated end.
The White House offered no immediate response to Putin’s comments.
Battlefield Claims and Counterclaims
Russian military commanders briefed Putin from frontline positions, reporting advances and the capture of several towns in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Ukraine’s military disputed those claims, saying its forces repelled Russian pushes near some of the named locations.
The competing statements underscore how battlefield realities and information warfare continue to complicate diplomacy.
US Peace Proposals Under Kremlin Review
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov held phone calls with Trump administration officials after reviewing US peace proposals.
Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev reportedly carried paper copies of the proposals back from a meeting in Miami. Peskov said Moscow analyzed the documents and agreed to keep dialogue open, declining to share details publicly to protect negotiations.
Russian media suggested Putin may have floated territorial swaps while insisting on control over all of Donbas, though the Kremlin offered no specifics.
Trump–Zelenskyy Talks and Global Reaction
Zelenskyy is set to meet Trump in Florida to discuss ending the nearly four-year war, including security guarantees and territorial issues in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia.
International reaction has intensified following the latest attacks. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said a lasting peace requires “a willing Russia,” condemning what he called the “barbarism” of the strikes on Kyiv. He announced C$2.5 billion in economic assistance for Ukraine to help unlock international financing for rebuilding.
Diplomacy Under Fire
With nationalist pressures and active fighting shaping positions on both sides, prospects for a ceasefire remain uncertain. The Kremlin signals readiness to talk while tying negotiations to military momentum, as Kyiv presses for peace backed by security guarantees.
Whether US proposals gain traction—or stall over red lines like Donbas—will become clearer as Trump–Zelenskyy talks proceed amid continued hostilities.
