BEIJING, China – Russian President Vladimir Putin said the conflict with Ukraine will continue if no agreement is reached with Kyiv.
“If we do not succeed in reaching an agreement on Ukraine, we will achieve our goals by military means,” Putin added.
Putin’s remarks came at a press conference held at the end of his four-day visit to China.
Putin (72 years old) renewed his confidence in achieving victory in Beijing.
He said that Russian forces are advancing successfully on all battle fronts, adding that Ukrainian forces’ reserves have been depleted.
The Russian President also once again questioned the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to negotiate.
He reiterated his argument that Zelensky’s constitutional term ended last year.
Zelensky continues to lead Ukraine under martial law. This law allows him to remain in office after the end of his term, in accordance with the constitution.
Putin described the dialogue with Zelensky as a “dead end”.
But at the same time, he praised US President Donald Trump. Trump is pushing for a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents.
Putin stressed that he sees “light at the end of the tunnel” thanks to the position of the new US administration.
“If logic prevails, an acceptable end to the conflict in Ukraine can be reached,” he added.
Putin did not clarify what this end might look like in concrete terms. However, he denied that Russia had linked its neighbor’s security guarantees to direct territorial demands.
