In a striking and provocative speech at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin boldly asserted that the entire territory of Ukraine rightfully belongs to Russia.
His remarks, which represent the most explicit expression of his expansionist aims since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in early 2022, have sparked renewed concern over Moscow’s long-term objectives in the war.
Responding to a question about his ultimate vision for Ukraine, Putin reiterated a belief he has expressed repeatedly that Russians and Ukrainians are historically and culturally inseparable. “I have said many times that I consider the Russian and Ukrainian people to be one nation,” he said, according to Sky News' Moscow correspondent. “In this sense, all of Ukraine is ours.”
To reinforce his point, Putin invoked a historic Russian military adage: “Where a Russian soldier sets foot, that is ours.” The statement was met with enthusiastic applause from a largely pro-Kremlin audience made up of government officials and business elites.
His comments come amid a fresh wave of military operations in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces are reportedly making advances around Donetsk. According to the Russian Defence Ministry, their troops have seized control of the village of Zaporizhzhya, signaling continued momentum on the battlefield as Kyiv struggles to defend its eastern frontlines.
In addition to asserting territorial claims, Putin issued a thinly veiled nuclear threat. Warning against any hypothetical use of a "dirty bomb" by Ukrainian forces, the Russian leader called such an act a "colossal mistake" and hinted at severe retaliation. “It could be their last mistake,” he warned. “We always respond and respond in kind. Therefore, our response will be very tough.”
Though Ukraine has consistently denied pursuing or possessing any radioactive weapons, the Russian narrative continues to frame Ukrainian forces and their Western backers as dangerous provocateurs. Putin further described Ukraine’s leadership as “neo-Nazis,” a claim widely rejected by the international community as baseless propaganda.
Meanwhile, geopolitical shifts in Washington may be weakening international pressure on Moscow. According to three U.S. officials cited by Reuters, an inter-agency task force set up to explore peace negotiations and increase diplomatic pressure on Russia has been quietly disbanded. The group reportedly saw diminished relevance under the Trump administration, which has shown little appetite for escalating tensions with the Kremlin.
Simultaneously, the Biden administration has redirected its strategic focus toward the escalating crisis in the Middle East, particularly the intensifying hostilities between Israel and Iran. This pivot has raised fresh doubts about Western commitment to Ukraine as the conflict drags into its fourth year with no diplomatic resolution in sight.
Putin’s latest remarks, coupled with continued battlefield gains and nuclear warnings, suggest that the Kremlin remains firmly committed to a long-term campaign in Ukraine one that is no longer just about territory but about shaping a new regional order with Russia at its center.
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