Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) is welcomed Friday by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) and Indian president Droupadi Murmu at her residence in New Delhi at the official start of a two day visit. In a TV interview ahead of the visit, Putin warned Ukraine to retreat from its Donbas region or be forced out. Photo by Tyagi Harish/EPA
Russian President Vladimir Putin repeated an ultimatum to Ukraine to pull its forces out of parts of the Donbas region in the east that it still holds, or face being routed by Russian forces.
“It boils down to this: Either we liberate these territories by force, or Ukrainian troops will leave these territories and stop fighting there,” Putin said Thursday during a state visit to India.
The threat came amid ongoing efforts by the United States to broker a compromise deal to end the war based on a plan, drawn up by the White House and the Kremlin, that was first floated by Trump in mid-November.
Trump’s team has since revised the original 28-point plan with input from the Ukrainians and Europeans.
Putin’s comments came as U.S. negotiators led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, were due to host a Ukrainian delegation in Miami to update them on the latest round of negotiations held in Moscow on Tuesday.
The Russian leader made an almost identical statement to reporters in Moscow last week and ahead of hosting Witkoff and Kushner in the Kremlin, as he said European nations were pushing “absolutely unacceptable” amendments.
“We’re not going to war with Europe; I’ve said that a hundred times. But if Europe suddenly wants to fight us and starts, we’re ready right now,” he said.
Trump said Tuesday’s meeting, which lasted for almost five hours running late into the night, had been “very good” and that Witkoff and Kushner were left with the impression Putin had a genuine desire to reach a deal.
However, Putin said the reason the talks with Witkoff and Kushner were so lengthy was that he hadn’t seen the latest version of the plan on the table.
“That’s why we had to go over every point, that’s why it took so long,” he said, adding that his team opposed some provisions of the plan.
“At times we said that yes, we can discuss this, but to that we can’t agree,” Putin said without detailing any specific examples.
However, his top foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov told reporters that while the talks had been “constructive” the question of Ukraine ceding territory remained deadlocked and that the Russian side did not “see a resolution to the crisis.”
The Kremlin confirmed that security guarantees, including the issue of NATO were also discussed, but stressed Putin was willing to meet “as many times as needed” with the U.S. delegation.
He did not name the sticking points. At least two significant points of contention remain — the fate of Ukrainian territory seized by Russian forces and security guarantees for Ukraine.
In an interview on Indian television, Putin said he believed Trump’s efforts were largely driven by humanitarian considerations.
“There is no doubt that President Trump had a sincere intention [to resolve the conflict]. The United States and President Trump may have their own ideas on how to go about this business,” Putin said.
“Moreover, I am sure that humanitarian issues were one of the motives for President Trump’s actions in this matter. He has repeatedly said that he wants to minimize losses.”
He noted what he said was Trump’s account of humanitarian issues when piecing together proposals for Ukraine.
Putin’s visit to India comes as the Trump administration is attempting to leverage tariffs to choke off purchases of discounted Russian oil, including by India, and prevent re-exports of processed oil products to third countries.
In August, the administration threatened India with an additional 25% tariff over the issue, which would have raised the total tariff on Indian imports to the United States to 50%. The tactic appeared to have succeeded with Trump announcing in October that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to halt Russian oil imports.
Historic December moments through the years
South Africans honor Nelson MandelaLarge crowds gather outside Nelson Mandela’s former home in the Johannesburg suburb of Houghton to pay their respects on December 7, 2013. Mandela, former South African president and a global icon of the anti-apartheid movement, died on December 5 at age 95 after complications from a recurring lung infection. Photo by Charlie Shoemaker/UPI | License Photo
