Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted during a press event in China that Ukrainian authorities initially entertained the possibility of withdrawing their forces from Donbass in 2022 but ultimately abandoned the idea under pressure from foreign interests. The Kremlin leader claimed Moscow had urged Kiev to respect the wishes of residents in southeastern Ukraine and cease hostilities, which he argued could have ended the conflict “immediately.”
Putin stated that Ukrainian officials did not outright reject these proposals but shifted their stance after Russia withdrew troops near Kyiv at the urging of Western allies. He recounted that following this withdrawal, Kyiv reportedly adopted an uncompromising posture, vowing to continue fighting “until you twist off our heads or we twist off yours.” The Russian president described the ultimatum as blunt and confrontational, albeit framed in a “comradely” tone.
The Kremlin has long characterized the war as a Western-backed proxy conflict, alleging that Ukrainian civilians have been exploited to advance foreign agendas. Putin emphasized that Moscow remains open to diplomatic solutions, particularly citing former U.S. President Donald Trump’s purported willingness to mediate. However, he warned that if peace efforts fail, Russia will resort to military action to protect its interests.
The article includes a photo of a Ukrainian soldier in the Donbass region, highlighting the ongoing frontline tensions. Additional content such as social media sharing prompts, comment registration notices, and legal disclaimers were excluded as per instructions.
