Putin says Russia will achieve war goals, keep expanding ‘buffer zone’

MOSCOW – President Vladimir Putin said on Dec 17 that Russia would achieve its goals in Ukraine by diplomatic or military means, and would seek to expand a “security buffer zone” there.

“First, the ‍goals ​of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved. ‍We would prefer to do this and address the root causes of the conflict through diplomacy,” Mr Putin said.

“If ​the opposing ​side and their foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive discussions, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means. The task of creating and expanding ‍a security buffer zone will also be consistently addressed.”

Of the regions of Ukraine that Russia ​has claimed as its own territory, it ⁠currently controls Crimea, around 90 per cent of the Donbas region and 75 per cent of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

In addition, Russia holds some territory in the adjoining regions of Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv.

Mr Putin’s comments signalled that Moscow would ​seek further gains on some of these fronts.

With the war at a key juncture as US President Donald ‌Trump pushes hard for a quick peace ​agreement, Mr Putin said

Russia was advancing on all fronts

.

But his defence minister, Mr Andrei Belousov, acknowledged that Ukrainian forces were trying to take back control of the north-eastern town of Kupiansk – an effort he said was not succeeding.

Ukraine said on Dec 17

it had taken 90 per cent of the town

, which Russia said it had captured in November.

Mr Putin said people in Europe were being indoctrinated with fears ‍of a war with Russia, and accused their leaders of whipping up hysteria.

“I have ​repeatedly stated: this is a lie, nonsense, pure nonsense about some imaginary Russian threat to European countries. ​But this is being done quite deliberately,” he said.

Mr Putin has said ‌Russia is not seeking war with Europe, but is ready for war if that is Europe’s choice. REUTERS