On Wednesday, December 17, Vladimir Putin warned that if Ukraine and the West refuse substantive talks, Russia will liberate its historic lands by force.
Putin on the War in Ukraine
On Wednesday, December 17, Vladimir Putin attended a meeting of Russia’s Defense Council and stated that Moscow would prefer a diplomatic resolution, but if Ukraine and the West refuse substantive talks, Russia will liberate its historic lands using military means, according to RBC.
He also indicated that Russia is weighing intensifying its offensive. “The positions, trenches, and tactical experience gained from recent battles break the enemy’s deep defense and enable us to increase the tempo of the offensive in strategically important areas,” he said, quoted by RIA.
Russia Arms Up While Putin Tries to Reassure
Putin announced that Russia’s priority is to strengthen strategic nuclear forces as a key deterrent and that plans exist to bring the Orion missile system into combat service by year‑end. He said the army’s capabilities are constantly evolving and the defense industry is expanding, yet Russia’s aim is not to attack any European state.
He criticized the narrative that Europeans are being warned to prepare for an inevitable clash with Russia, calling that messaging “a lie, nonsense, simply nonsense.”
