Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russian forces are advancing across the entire frontline and will soon “finish off” Kyiv’s military, while criticising European attempts to derail a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
Putin made these remarks on Thursday during a meeting with the crew of the Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine, which is equipped with Zircon hypersonic missiles.
The Russian president reiterated that Moscow had always sought a diplomatic resolution but was met with deception and obstruction from the West—first through the failed Minsk Agreements and later during the 2022 Istanbul peace talks.
“Their European handlers… convinced the Ukrainian leadership that they had to continue armed resistance, essentially to the last Ukrainian, to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia,” Putin stated.
He accused the West, particularly British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, of underestimating Russia’s resolve and military capabilities.
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“He must have forgotten that there are people like you – and weapons like your submarine,” Putin told the naval crew. “He forgot, or maybe they simply do not understand what the Russian people are made of.”
Putin declared that the conflict was reaching a decisive stage, expressing confidence in Russia’s military superiority. “Across the entire line of combat engagement, our troops hold the strategic initiative,” he asserted.
He further added: “We’ll squeeze them. Now there’s reason to believe we’ll finish them off. Then, I think a moment of realisation must come to the Ukrainian people themselves.”
Emphasising Moscow’s stance on peace, Putin remarked, “We are in favour of resolving these issues by peaceful means… But the root causes must be eliminated. We must ensure Russia’s security for the long historical perspective.”
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