In a recent address at the annual meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry, President Vladimir Putin delivered a lengthy speech that underscored his unwavering stance on Ukraine. He brazenly promised that Russia would never surrender its claims on Ukrainian territory. He called these areas his “historical lands.” This new unapologetic stance comes just ahead of a key European summit in Brussels. There, U.S. and European leaders are increasing their diplomatic pressure to negotiate a ceasefire.
With the handful of areas mentioned, Putin illustrated the particular ground he believes Ukraine has no choice but to give up, showing his resolve to territorial acquisition. In a combative tone, he lashed out at Ukraine’s European allies, signaling his discontent with their support for Ukraine in the ongoing conflict. Against this backdrop, with both sides at loggerheads, Putin explicitly signaled that if diplomacy were to fail, Russia would seek to take territory by military means.
During his address, Putin expressed skepticism about the potential for meaningful engagement with European leaders under the current political climate. He argued that we cannot have faith in today’s political elites. He thinks that inevitable should be the next step as we grow more powerful. If not with the current politicians, then when the current generation of elites in Europe goes. He believes that with a different political makeup in Europe, future negotiations could play out much differently. This comment sharply underscores his point of view.
So, despite his blood-curdling threats, Putin suggested that he is still willing to talk to the US. He articulated a desire to resolve the conflict through diplomatic means, asserting that he “would prefer to do this, and eliminate the root causes of the conflict, through diplomacy.” His remarks hint at a difficult balancing act between maintaining military readiness and pursuing negotiations.
Indeed, U.S. and European leaders are currently trying to realize a peace accord with breathless diplomatic undertakings. Putin’s comments would make such discussions more dicey. The current violence puts tremendous pressure on diplomatic ties between Russia and the West. European leaders are coming together, united in their support for Ukraine’s continued defense. Ursula von der Leyen recently emphasized this commitment, stating, “There is no more important act of European defense than supporting Ukraine’s defense.”
Putin’s speech illustrates how deeply rooted and complicated the Ukraine conflict is. More importantly, it highlights the immense pressures that any future diplomatic efforts will be up against in the years ahead. The picture is very much still in flux as leaders jockey for position ahead of the reported May 7th summit in Brussels.
