Putin warns Ukraine to pull out of Donbas or be expelled

On December 5, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated an ultimatum to Ukraine, insisting that Kyiv remove its forces from the remaining areas of the Donbas region under its control, or risk being expelled by Russian troops. Speaking during a state visit to India, Putin stated, "It comes down to this: either we reclaim these territories by force, or Ukrainian forces will vacate and cease operations there."

The statement coincides with U.S. efforts to mediate a resolution to the conflict, based on a framework initially proposed by the White House and Kremlin, which had been first suggested by former President Trump in mid-November. Trump's team later revised the 28-point plan with input from Ukrainian and European officials.

Putins remarks came as U.S. negotiators, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, were scheduled to meet a Ukrainian delegation in Miami to provide updates on discussions held in Moscow earlier in the week. The Russian president had made a similar declaration in Moscow the previous week, emphasizing that certain proposed European amendments were "absolutely unacceptable."

"We are not seeking war with Europe, as I have stated repeatedly. But if Europe initiates conflict, we are ready immediately," he added.

Trump described a five-hour meeting on Tuesday as "very good," noting that U.S. negotiators left with the impression that Putin had a sincere intention to negotiate. Putin, however, said the extended duration was due to his team not having seen the most recent version of the plan, and that certain provisions were opposed by Russia. "Sometimes we could discuss points, other times we could not agree," he explained without providing specific examples.

Yuri Ushakov, Putin's top foreign policy aide, described the discussions as "constructive" but acknowledged that the core issue of Ukrainian territorial concessions remained unresolved, and that Russia did not foresee a resolution to the crisis at this stage.

The Kremlin confirmed that security guarantees, including NATO-related concerns, were part of the discussions, while emphasizing that Putin was prepared to meet with the U.S. delegation as often as necessary. The key sticking points are the status of Ukrainian territory captured by Russia and the framework for Ukrainian security assurances.

During an interview on Indian television, Putin suggested that humanitarian concerns largely motivated Trumps involvement. "President Trump clearly intended to address the conflict sincerely. Humanitarian considerations were an important factor, as he consistently emphasized minimizing casualties," Putin said.

Putins visit to India also occurs amid U.S. efforts to curb Indian purchases of discounted Russian oil and prevent the re-export of refined products. Earlier in August, the U.S. threatened India with a potential 25% additional tariff, which would have increased the total tariff on Indian imports to 50%. The strategy appeared effective, with Trump later announcing that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to suspend Russian oil imports.

Author: Olivia Parker