Russian President Vladimir Putin declares Russia's Ukraine war goals will be achieved through negotiations or military force as diplomatic efforts.

Russian president says Moscow prefers diplomacy but will press on militarily if Kyiv and its Western backers reject Kremlin demands

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Russia could expand territorial control in Ukraine if peace talks fail, while saying Moscow prefers negotiations. Speaking to military leaders, he cited battlefield momentum and growing military capabilities as diplomacy continues amid deep disagreements over territory and security guarantees,

Two days of talks between President Volodymyr Zelensky and allies have brought some progress on security guarantees, but Russia remains opposed to any foreign forces in Ukraine.

As Donald Trump pushes hard for a peace breakthrough, Moscow’s latest words suggest Russia is in no mood to soften its stance on Ukraine’s future.

Putin said Russia would take more land in Ukraine by force if Kyiv and European politicians whom he cast as “young pigs” did not engage over US proposals for a peace settlement.

Ukraine delivered its response to the latest US-drafted peace proposal aimed at ending the war with Russia to the Trump administration on Wednesday, US and Ukrainian officials told CNN, as the contours of a tenuous potential deal take shape and the US president continues to make clear he wants the conflict resolved quickly.

“During the cordial talks, which focused on the war in Ukraine, the Holy Father reiterated the need for the continuation of dialogue and expressed his urgent desire that the current diplomatic initiatives bring about a just and lasting peace,” the Vatican communique said.

Russian president vows to liberate ‘historic lands’ in hardline speech, showing no signs of compromise on invasion goals