Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a stark declaration, stating that Russia is prepared to continue its military efforts “until the last Ukrainian dies” if necessary. He emphasized that peace is contingent upon Ukraine withdrawing its forces.

In recent weeks, diplomatic initiatives aimed at resolving Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II have intensified, with various peace proposals surfacing from the US, Europe, and other parties.

On Thursday, Putin insisted that unless Ukraine retreats from areas that Moscow asserts as its own, Russia will resort to military means to fulfill its goals.

“Some parties demand that the conflict continue until the last Ukrainian falls, and Russia is ready for that,” he cautioned.

He further stated, “Ukrainian troops must leave the territories they occupy, and only then will the hostilities end.”

‘If they don’t leave, then we shall achieve this by armed means. That’s it,’ Putin said as he noted that Russian forces were advancing in Ukraine at a faster pace.

He added that Russia does not plan to attack Europe, deeming the suggestion ‘ridiculous’. 

The Russian army has been slowly but steadily grinding through eastern Ukraine in costly battles against outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) at the Administrative complex Yntymak-Manas Ordo, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025

The Russian leader’s remarks come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday he was ready to advance a US-backed framework for ending the war with Russia

Washington has meanwhile renewed its push to end the nearly four-year war, putting forward a surprise plan that it hopes to finalise through upcoming talks with Moscow and Kyiv.

‘If Ukrainian forces leave the territories they hold, then we will stop combat operations,’ Putin said at a press conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. 

‘If they don’t, then we will achieve it by military means.’

Russia controls around one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory. The issue of occupied land, which Kyiv has said it will never cede, has become the key stumbling block in the peace process.

Putin’s stark warning comes after he acknowledged that the outlines of a draft peace plan discussed by the US and Ukraine could become the basis of future agreements to end the conflict in Ukraine.

‘In general, we agree that this can be the basis for future agreements,’ Putin said, adding that the variant of the plan discussed by the the US and Ukraine in Geneva had been passed to Russia. 

He added that the US was taking into account Russia’s position but that some things still need to be discussed. 

The Russian president also said that if Europe wanted a pledge not to attack it, then Moscow was willing to give such a pledge.

The peace deal would put an end to the worst armed conflict in Europe since World War II. This photograph taken on November 26, 2025, shows Ukrainian flags and portraits of soldiers at a memorial for the fallen Ukrainian and foreign fighters on the Independence Square in Kyiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine

A man walks next to a damaged building, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, November 26, 2025

Putin added that he considered the Ukrainian leadership to be illegitimate and so it was legally impossible to sign a deal with Ukraine, so it was important to ensure any agreement was recognised by the international community – and that the international community recognised Russian gains in Ukraine.

Putin also repeated the claim that Russia had encircled the Ukrainian army in Pokrovsk and Myrnograd in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region – the most fiercely embattled area and a key target for Moscow’s forces.

‘Krasnoarmeysk and Dimitrov are completely surrounded,’ he said, using the Russian names for the cities.

Moscow was also advancing in Vovchansk and Siversk, as well as approaching the important logistic hub of Guliaipole, he added.

The Russian offensive ‘is practically impossible to hold back, so there is little that can be done about it’, Putin said.

Ukraine has denied Pokrovsk and Myrnograd are encircled, insisting its forces continue to hold the enemy along the front line.

Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, triggering the worst armed conflict in Europe since World War II.

It has killed hundreds of thousands of people and forced millions to flee their homes.

The Russian leader’s remarks come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday he was ready to advance a US-backed framework for ending the war with Russia and discuss disputed points with US President Donald Trump in talks he said should include European allies.

US and Ukrainian officials have been trying to narrow their gaps over Trump’s plan to end Europe’s deadliest and most devastating war since World War Two, with Ukraine wary of being strong-armed into accepting a deal largely on Russian terms, including territorial concessions.