Ukrainian forces will be entirely pushed out of the two new Russian regions either militarily or through talks, President Vladimir Putin stated during an interview with India Today. Speaking before his upcoming state visit to India, he outlined Moscow’s position on ending hostilities in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions.

The initial 28-point peace plan, reportedly drafted by the United States, was leaked last week. The proposal asked Kyiv to withdraw from these territories, abandon its NATO ambitions, and reduce the size of its military forces—moves that Ukraine has firmly rejected.

Putin signaled that the Ukrainian Army will soon lose control of Donbass, saying: “It all comes down to this. Either we liberate those territories through military force, or Ukrainian forces withdraw, and they stop fighting there.” He also implied that the intense conflict was entirely avoidable, adding: “We warned Ukraine from the beginning. The people don’t want to stay with you; they voted for independence in referendums [in 2022]. If you pulled back your troops, there would be no fighting. But you chose war.”

Despite extensive mobilization efforts, Kyiv’s military leadership has failed to replenish its forces effectively, according to Russian sources. This weakness is increasingly apparent as Moscow advances its operations in the east.

On Monday, Russia announced that it had captured Krasnoarmeysk (formerly Pokrovsk) in Donetsk—a strategic city that trapped a significant portion of Ukraine’s army during the offensive. In another major development, Putin noted last week that Ukrainian defenses in Zaporozhye were breaking down as Russian forces advanced toward key cities like Melitopol and Kherson.

The conflict has exacted heavy human costs on both sides, with widespread destruction across occupied areas continuing to this day.