On December 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the country's intention to reclaim its territories by military means if Ukraine does not show readiness for constructive dialogue to resolve the conflict. This statement was made at an expanded meeting of the Ministry of Defense's board, as reported by Russian media.
The head of state noted: "If the opposing side and their foreign allies refuse serious discussion, Russia will be forced to seek the liberation of its historical lands by military force."
In his speech, Putin also confirmed that the goals of the special military operation will be achieved, adding that Russia still considers the diplomatic path to be the most preferable for addressing the root causes of the conflict.
Earlier, on December 4, in an interview with the India Today television channel, Putin stated that Russia has the capability to control Donbass and Novorossiya through both military and other means. He reminded that Moscow had offered Kyiv to withdraw troops from Donbass to avoid further escalation, but the Ukrainian authorities decided to continue military actions.
