Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued one of his clearest ultimatums yet in the ongoing conflict, declaring that Moscow will take full control of the Donbas region either through the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops or by military force if necessary.
Putin made the remarks ahead of a scheduled visit to India, insisting that Russia’s objective in eastern Ukraine remains unchanged and that the remaining areas under Ukrainian control must “come under Russian administration.”
The statement comes at a sensitive moment in diplomatic efforts with recent engagements involving Russian officials and Western envoys raising hopes for dialogue. Despite that, Putin reiterated that there will be no compromise over Donbas a region Russia already controls large parts of but continues to battle for in several key districts.
Kyiv has swiftly rejected the ultimatum, maintaining that its forces will not retreat from any sovereign Ukrainian territory and insisting that any proposal requiring withdrawal is unacceptable.
Donbas comprising Donetsk and Luhansk has been the centre of the Russia Ukraine conflict since 2014 and remains heavily contested. While Russia has intensified efforts to consolidate control, Ukrainian troops continue to hold strategic positions, particularly in western parts of the region.
Putin’s warning raises fears of renewed, large scale offensives should negotiations fail. Analysts say the ultimatum signals that Moscow is prepared to escalate militarily if its demands are not met.
The renewed threat underscores the fragile state of current diplomatic engagements. With both sides holding firm, observers caution that tensions may rise sharply in the coming weeks as Russia pushes to achieve its stated objectives on the battlefield.
For now, Ukraine says it remains committed to defending all its territory while calling on international partners to maintain pressure and support as the conflict enters yet another critical phase.