Putin Says Russia Is Winning as Ukraine Peace Talks Remain Stalled

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia was gaining ground in its war against Ukraine and would continue fighting if a meaningful peace agreement could not be reached.

His comments came as efforts to restart peace talks remain stalled, with both sides still far apart on key issues.

Putin said Moscow was still willing to take part in Russia-Ukraine negotiations aimed at ending the war, including discussions involving U.S. President Donald Trump.

However, he made clear that Russia would not negotiate with what he called “terrorists” and insisted that any settlement should bring a lasting end to the conflict rather than simply pause the fighting.

• Putin says Russia is gaining ground as Ukraine peace talks remain stalled
• Russia signals continued military action as Ukraine negotiations show little progress
• Putin keeps door open to Ukraine peace talks while rejecting major concessions

Putin Says Russian Forces Are Advancing

Speaking after a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Putin said Russian forces had made significant progress on the battlefield. He claimed that Russian troops had captured about 270 square kilometres of territory in Ukraine’s Donetsk region during August.

Putin also said two groups of Ukrainian troops had been surrounded and that Russian forces were moving towards Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, two important cities in the eastern Donetsk region. Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield claims.

The Russian president also warned that Moscow was preparing major attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. At the same time, he acknowledged that Ukrainian drone strikes had caused damage to Russian oil refineries.

Putin said around 10% of Russia’s refining capacity was still affected by repairs following the attacks. He added that improved security measures had helped reduce the damage caused by Ukrainian drone attacks.

The Kremlin leader also dismissed reports that Russia could be preparing for another large-scale military mobilisation. He described such claims as “utter nonsense” and said there was no need for another mobilisation at present.

Moscow Says It Is Still Open to Peace Talks

Although Putin spoke confidently about Russia’s military position, he said Moscow remained open to peace negotiations. He stressed, however, that Russia wanted talks to produce a lasting settlement and not another temporary ceasefire.

The comments come after U.S.-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine broke down in February. Since then, diplomatic efforts have made little progress, while fighting has continued along the front lines.

Putin’s comments suggest that Russia continues to see its military position as an important advantage in any future negotiations. Moscow appears to believe that continued battlefield gains could strengthen its position at the negotiating table.

The Russian president also rejected accusations from Germany that Moscow was behind an attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport last month. Putin said Germany was using Russia as a scapegoat for its own domestic political problems and denied responsibility for the incident.

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With the Ukraine war continuing and diplomatic efforts largely frozen, Putin’s latest remarks show that Moscow is not closing the door on negotiations but is also not showing signs of making major concessions. For now, the Kremlin appears prepared to continue its military campaign while waiting for conditions that it considers more favourable for a potential Ukraine peace deal.