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“All of Ukraine Is Ours,” Says Putin, Denies Capitulation Plans but Doesn’t Rule Out Taking Sumy
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Russian leader Vladimir Putin claimed that Moscow is allegedly not seeking Ukraine’s capitulation but is demanding recognition of the “realities on the ground.” He made the statement during the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Russian media outlet RIA.Novosti reported on June 20.
“We are not seeking Ukraine’s capitulation. We insist on the recognition of the realities that have developed on the ground,” Putin told forum participants.
In his speech, he also repeated several of the Kremlin’s standard talking points in an attempt to justify Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He claimed that Russia’s actions following what he referred to as a “coup” in Kyiv were aimed at “protecting the population spiritually connected to Russia.” According to Putin, Russia allegedly tried to resolve the situation through peaceful means—namely, the Minsk agreements.
He also stated that Moscow does not currently aim to capture the Ukrainian border city of Sumy, but added that such a possibility cannot be excluded.
“We don’t have the objective of taking Sumy, but in principle, I don’t rule it out,” Putin said. “Why are we doing this? Because they pose a threat to us, constantly shelling our territory. This is the result of their incompetent actions,” he added, referring to Ukraine.
Russian leader further accused the United States of supporting a “bloody coup” in Ukraine, stating that Washington openly spent billions of dollars on it. He also criticized the West for pursuing a neo-colonial approach, pointing to the dismissal of Russia’s calls to halt NATO expansion.
When asked how far Russian forces intend to advance in Ukraine—given that troops are operating beyond the territories Moscow has illegally claimed—Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that the Kremlin’s ambitions may extend beyond those regions.
“You mentioned the regions in Ukraine that we consider ours. I’ve said many times that I view Russians and Ukrainians as one people. In that sense, all of Ukraine is ours,” Putin stated.
Putin went on to say that the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine is the result of actions by those “unwilling to accept global changes.” His speech also echoed controversial narratives, including the claim that “Russians and Ukrainians are one people,” despite Russia's ongoing full-scale war against Ukraine.
Earlier, Russia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrei Kelin, warned that Ukraine must accept Moscow’s terms to end the war or face continued Russian advances and eventual “surrender.”
Speaking with journalists, Kelin said that Russia is moving forward with its offensive and sees no reason to halt operations, openly dismissing ceasefire proposals backed by the United States.
