Putin says Russia's military goals in Ukraine will be achieved
He also told servicemen the vote ahead is being held for them, as Moscow and Washington keep talking past each other on peace terms.
Published
President Vladimir Putin said the goals of the special military operation in Ukraine will be achieved. He told army servicemen that the coming vote is being held for them.
The remarks come as diplomatic contacts continue. Rubio was set to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in New York at 9am ET on September 23. Zelenskiy has said he and Trump discussed an energy ceasefire and ending the war, and Trump has said the two are working on a plan to do so. Moscow, though, says conditions for peace talks are not yet ready, and says any Putin-Zelenskiy meeting can only take place in Moscow, with no high-level meeting yet scheduled.
Putin's reaffirmation of Russia's military objectives, paired with his focus on domestic political consolidation, points to no shift toward negotiation despite the parallel diplomatic signals from Trump and Rubio. The rhetoric underscores Moscow's continued commitment to its battlefield goals even as sanctions discussions and potential talks gain traction, narrowing the window for any near-term settlement.