Putin says Russia ready to take Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region ‘by force’

Al JazeeraCenterEN 4 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera StaffDecember 4, 2025 at 12:12 PM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

In December 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated his intention to seize Ukraine's Donbas region by force, contradicting reports that he was interested in a peace deal. Speaking to Indian media ahead of a trip to New Delhi, Putin's comments followed talks between US envoys and Kremlin officials in Moscow. Despite these discussions, Putin reiterated Russia's demand for control over the entire Donbas region, comprised of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. These statements contrast with President Trump's assertion that US negotiators believed Putin wanted to end the war. Meanwhile, further talks are planned between US envoys and a top Ukrainian negotiator in Florida. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy maintains that ceding territory is unconstitutional and unacceptable.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Jared Kushner ×250% Steve Witkoff ×250% United States 50% Donald Trump ×280% Donbas region ×280% Vladimir Putin ×4100% Ukraine ×4100%

Keywords

russia-ukraine war 100% donbas region 90% territorial control 80% peace talks 70% vladimir putin 70% negotiations 60% military force 50% us envoys 50% ukrainian territory 40%