Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Russia is winning the war in Ukraine, insisting that Moscow’s forces are advancing while ruling out negotiations with what he described as “terrorists” in Kyiv.
Putin made the remarks on Tuesday at a news conference following the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where he gave his most detailed assessment of the war in several weeks.
The Russian leader said there was “no doubt” Ukrainian forces would eventually collapse, although he declined to predict when that would happen.
“I have no doubt the enemy will crumble,” Putin told reporters, while claiming that Russian advances along the battlefield were accelerating.
According to Putin, Russian forces captured about 270 square kilometres of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region in August.
He also claimed that two large groups of Ukrainian troops had been surrounded, with one group numbering between 4,500 and 4,800 soldiers and the other comprising up to 2,000 troops.
The claims could not be independently verified.
Russia currently controls about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, more than four years after the invasion began.
Putin said Russian troops were continuing their advance towards the strategic cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, while Moscow’s forces were preparing what he described as massive strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
He also criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s warning that Ukrainian drones could effectively shut down Russian airspace, describing such a move as “state terrorism.”
Putin said Russia would respond if Ukrainian drone attacks reached that level.
Speaking about possible peace negotiations, Putin took a contradictory position, saying Moscow could not negotiate with “terrorists” while also maintaining that Russia remained open to talks aimed at ending the war.
He said Russia was prepared to engage with US President Donald Trump’s envoys if there was a genuine prospect of achieving progress.
“If someone makes, or can make, a tangible contribution to this process, we are all in favour,” Putin said.
He added that Moscow did not want negotiations to become a pointless exercise, but would welcome any effort capable of bringing positive movement to the stalled process.
US-mediated peace talks broke down in February after the United States and Israel went to war with Iran, according to the report.
Putin also dismissed speculation that Russia could be forced to announce another military mobilisation, describing such reports as “utter nonsense.”
However, he acknowledged that Ukrainian drone strikes had caused significant damage inside Russia, particularly to oil refineries.
Putin said the attacks had presented a serious challenge but claimed Russian authorities had strengthened protection around the facilities.
He said only about 10 per cent of Russia’s refineries remained in need of repairs, without directly addressing fuel shortages linked to the attacks.
The Russian president also rejected accusations from Germany that Moscow was behind an attempted drone attack on Leipzig airport last month.
Putin accused the government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz of blaming Russia to divert attention from domestic difficulties and declining public approval.
He further alleged, without providing evidence, that Germany had planted evidence to frame Russia over the incident.
