Putin Says Russian Forces Advancing, Urges Ukraine to Accept Trump's Peace Plan

Russian President Vladimir Putin maintained a强硬 stance on the Russia-Ukraine war on Thursday, claiming Russian forces are advancing daily on the front lines, but also emphasized that a peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump could end the conflict if Kyiv is willing to compromise. According to Reuters, Putin made these remarks to foreign media on the sidelines of Russia's annual flagship economic forum. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly sent a letter to Putin proposing a face-to-face meeting to negotiate an end to the war, warning that Kyiv is prepared to continue fighting if talks fail. A Kremlin spokesperson said Putin is aware of the letter but has not yet reviewed its details in full. Trump said it would be good if the two leaders were to meet. The Russia-Ukraine war has entered its fifth year, becoming the deadliest ground war in Europe since World War II. Putin said on Thursday that Russian forces have recently pushed Ukrainian troops out of nearly 2,500 square kilometers of territory, but acknowledged the growing threat from Ukrainian drones, stating Moscow will strengthen its air defense capabilities. However, some Western and Ukrainian military analysts point out that the pace of the Russian advance has actually slowed significantly and remains far from achieving Moscow's stated military objectives. Putin emphasized, "The offensive continues every day. Currently, the Russian Federation fully controls the Luhansk People's Republic, over 85% of the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic, and 80% of the Zaporizhzhia region." Putin was referring to three of the four Ukrainian regions Moscow declared annexed in 2022. He said, "Ukraine, of course, wants us to stop advancing, but instead, it should accept the compromise plan discussed in Anchorage to completely end the war," referring to a summit he held with Trump on August 15 last year at a US military base in Anchorage, Alaska. This statement clearly implies Moscow is demanding Kyiv cede control of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, which includes two of the four regions Russia claims to have annexed. Zelenskyy has stated that accepting this demand would affect the fate of hundreds of thousands of people and risk further Russian attacks on remaining territory. Putin said Kyiv must eventually compromise, adding that he understands Trump is busy with the war in Iran and that the European Union might be able to persuade Kyiv. However, Zelenskyy emphasized in his open letter that it is Putin himself who needs to make the decision to end the war, as Ukrainian missile and drone attacks, inflation, and fuel shortages are making the Russian people yearn for peace, and if Putin does not make the right choice, his political future could be at risk. Putin told foreign media on site that he emphasized to Trump last year that he was ready to end the war through diplomatic means. "We are, of course, ready and willing to reach an agreement with Ukraine through peaceful means, especially based on the foundation we discussed with President Trump during our talks in Anchorage. Russia agreed to those compromises, and the Ukrainian side must also accept them. Then the conflict will naturally and quickly come to an end." He added that if a peace agreement is actually reached, "we can at least, and should, say, 'Thank God, it's all finally over.'"