Putin at SPIEF 2025: Russia Not Seeking Ukraine's Surrender but Recognition of Ground Realities

 ST. PETERSBURG, June 20, 2025 — Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Moscow is not demanding Ukraine's unconditional surrender but is instead seeking recognition of the current territorial and political realities that have emerged from the ongoing conflict. Speaking during the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025), Putin outlined Russia’s objectives, reiterated a preference for diplomacy, and warned of “catastrophic” consequences should Ukraine pursue nuclear escalation.

“We Are Not Seeking Surrender”

When asked whether Russia expected an “unconditional surrender” from Kiev—paralleling demands made by U.S. President Donald Trump toward Iran—Putin dismissed the notion, stating:
“We are not seeking the surrender of Ukraine. We insist on recognition of the realities that have developed on the ground.”
Putin reaffirmed that Moscow remains open to diplomatic avenues to resolve the crisis, while warning that Ukraine’s deteriorating battlefield position could lead to less favorable terms in the future.

Diplomacy Repeatedly Undermined

Putin traced the roots of the conflict to the 2014 Western-backed Maidan uprising in Ukraine and claimed that Russia had made multiple overtures to de-escalate tensions through negotiations.
“At each stage, we suggested to those with whom we were in contact in Ukraine to stop and said, ‘Let’s negotiate now. Because this logic of purely military actions can result in your situation getting worse,’” he said.
These efforts, according to Putin, were undermined by Kiev and its Western supporters, particularly during the Istanbul talks in early 2022, which he claims collapsed under “neocolonial” Western pressure.

On Ukrainian Sovereignty and Identity

Denying any intent to erase Ukraine’s sovereignty, Putin pointed to the 1991 Declaration of Independence, stating that the foundation of Ukraine’s statehood was its commitment to non-alignment and neutrality.
“It would be a good idea to return to these fundamental values,” he said.
At the same time, he reaffirmed his long-standing view of a shared identity between Russians and Ukrainians.
“I consider Russians and Ukrainians to be one people, in fact. In this sense, all of Ukraine is ours,” he said.

Warning Against Nuclear Escalation

Putin issued a stern warning against any attempt by Ukraine to acquire or deploy a nuclear device, including a so-called "dirty bomb."
“Our response will be very harsh and, most likely, catastrophic for both the neo-Nazi regime and, unfortunately, for Ukraine itself,” he warned, while adding that Moscow currently has no intelligence to suggest that Kiev is actively pursuing such capabilities.

Ukrainian Military Stretched Thin

Citing recent military engagements, including Ukraine’s failed offensive into Russia’s Kursk Region, Putin claimed that Ukrainian forces are suffering from critical manpower shortages, with frontline units reportedly operating at just 47% capacity.
“They lost 76,000 people in Kursk. It was a disaster for them,” he said, accusing Ukraine of expanding its conflict zone to the detriment of its own military coherence.
According to the president, Ukraine’s actions have created an additional 1,600 km of contact line, which he described as “hard to imagine bigger stupidity from a military point of view.”

Buffer Zones and Potential Advance

Putin acknowledged that Russian forces have advanced into Ukraine’s Sumy Region following operations in Kursk, and stated that the newly established buffer zone along the border is now up to 12 kilometers deep.
While denying any immediate plans to capture Sumy, he did not rule out future incursions.
“We don’t have the goal of taking Sumy, but in principle, I don’t rule it out,” he said, suggesting that further action could be taken to safeguard Russian border regions.

Putin’s remarks come amid intensified global scrutiny over the direction of the war in Ukraine and Russia’s evolving strategic posture. While insisting on diplomacy, the Russian leader’s statements underscored Moscow’s firm stance on territorial claims, its readiness to escalate if provoked, and a hardened resolve shaped by what the Kremlin sees as years of Western antagonism.