Putin says Russia will achieve goals force unless Ukraine withdraws | World News

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) at the Adminrative complex Yntymak-Manas Ordo, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the outlines of a draft peace plan discussed the United States and Ukraine could become the basis of future agreements to end the conflict in Ukraine.

“In general, we agree that this can be the basis for future agreements,” Putin said at an event in Kyrgyzstan, adding that the variant of the plan discussed the United States and Ukraine in Geneva had been passed to Russia.

‘Some things still need to be discussed’

Putin also said that the United States was taking into account Russia’s position but that some things still need to be discussed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov talk to each other, as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko walks behind them on the sidelines of the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO). (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

He said that if Europe wanted a pledge not to attack it, then Russia was willing to give such a pledge.

‘Will achieve war goals force’

Russia, Putin said, was still being told it should cease the fighting.

“Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the territories they hold, and then the fighting will cease. If they don’t leave, then we shall achieve this armed means. That’s it,” Putin said. Russian forces, he said, were advancing in Ukraine at a faster pace.

He added that the pace of Russia’s advance in all directions was “noticeably increasing.”

The Russian President’s comments come as renewed efforts the Trump adminration to end the war in Ukraine, which has been going on for more than four years, are entering crucial stages.

The Trump peace plan calls for Ukraine to cede Donbas to Russia, while fighting will freeze on the front lines at their current positions.

From left, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov pose for a family photo at the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) at the Adminrative complex Yntymak-Manas Ordo, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

‘Ukrainian leadership is illegitimate’

Putin said that he considered the Ukrainian leadership to be illegitimate and so it was legally impossible to sign a deal with Ukraine, so it was important to ensure any agreement was recognised the international community – and that the international community recognised Russian gains in Ukraine.

According to the peace plan, Ukraine should hold Presidential elections within hundred days of the ceasefire coming into effect.

Putin also rejected the suggestion that US envoy Steve Witkoff had shown himself to be biased towards Moscow in peace talks over Ukraine, describing it as nonsense.

Earlier this week, Bloomberg published a transcript of the conversation between Witkoff and Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy advisor, where the Trump envoy coached the Russian official on how the Russian leader should pitch the peace plan to the US President.