President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia will seize full control of Ukraine’s Donbas region by force if Ukrainian forces do not withdraw, a proposition that Kyiv has outrightly rejected. The deployment of tens of thousands of troops by Putin into Ukraine in February 2022 came after eight years of conflict between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that constitute the Donbas area.
In an interview with India Today before his visit to New Delhi, Putin emphasized the ultimatum: “Either we regain control of these territories through military means, or Ukrainian troops vacate the areas.” However, Ukraine has firmly refused to cede its territory to Russia, emphasizing that Moscow should not be rewarded for instigating the war.
Currently, Russia holds nearly 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, and significant portions of other regions. In discussions with the United States regarding a potential peace agreement, Russia has consistently demanded control over the entire Donbas area and suggested that the U.S. should tacitly acknowledge its authority.
Despite Russia’s assertion in 2022 that Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia were now Russian territories following disputed referendums, most nations recognize these regions, along with Crimea, as part of Ukraine. Following a meeting with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Putin acknowledged accepting some U.S. proposals on Ukraine, signaling a willingness to continue negotiations.
Tragically, civilian casualties persist in Ukraine, with Russian attacks causing fatalities and widespread destruction. Recent incidents include a ballistic missile strike in Kryvyi Rih, resulting in injuries and damage to residential areas, and a young girl’s death in Kherson due to artillery shelling. The escalating conflict has left thousands without essential services in cities like Kherson and Odesa, as Russia intensifies its assaults on Ukraine’s infrastructure.
As the conflict rages on, countries like Turkey are urging both Russia and Ukraine to spare energy infrastructure from the conflict, emphasizing the need to protect critical resources. In a separate incident, two individuals were killed in the Kherson region by a Ukrainian drone strike, underscoring the grim toll of the ongoing war.