Russian President Vladimir Putin escalated his rhetoric on Friday, vowing to “finish off” Ukrainian troops as part of his ongoing military offensive, while also calling for the establishment of a “transitional administration” in Ukraine. His remarks, made at an Arctic forum, came as tensions between Moscow and Kyiv continue to soar, with U.S. President Donald Trump advocating for a ceasefire to end the devastating conflict.
Putin’s statement highlighted his belief that a transitional administration could be set up in Ukraine, possibly under the UN’s guidance, to organize democratic elections and establish a government more aligned with Russia’s interests. He stated that such a government would then engage in peace negotiations with Russia, paving the way for an eventual peace agreement. This push for a shift in Ukraine’s leadership is part of a broader Russian strategy to replace President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government with one more favorable to Moscow.
Zelensky, however, quickly rejected Putin’s proposals, calling them a thinly veiled attempt to stall peace efforts and undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty. The Ukrainian president reiterated that Putin’s relentless attacks on his government were obstructing any meaningful steps toward ending the war. Putin has repeatedly questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, calling him a “neo-Nazi” and a “drug addict,” accusations that have been widely dismissed and lack evidence.
Since the war’s beginning, Moscow has made claims that Ukraine is not a true democracy, despite the country’s legal framework which suspends elections during wartime. Zelensky’s administration has firmly rejected the idea of holding elections while the war continues, stressing that the focus must remain on defending Ukraine against Russia’s aggression.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, suggested that Putin’s call for a transitional administration stemmed from what Moscow perceives as Ukraine’s failure to control its military, accusing the Ukrainian forces of daily attacks on Russian energy sites. On the battlefield, Russia has reported some territorial gains, claiming control of a village in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region and a border settlement in Kursk, Russia.
In the midst of the conflict, Putin ordered Russian troops to push further, intensifying his pledge to “finish off” Ukrainian forces. The human cost of the war continues to mount, with Ukraine reporting the largest number of casualties yet — 909 Ukrainian soldiers killed in battle.
On the diplomatic front, Russia has criticized the European Union for blocking progress on a potential ceasefire deal, claiming that the EU’s refusal to lift sanctions on a Russian agricultural bank is impeding peace efforts. Moscow has also voiced frustration over the EU’s stance on sanctions, which it views as a major obstacle to resolving the conflict.
In other news, Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine had received a new proposal from the United States regarding its vast mineral resources. The draft agreement would allow the U.S. access to Ukraine’s natural resources in exchange for further military support. However, Zelensky emphasized that the agreement would need to undergo legal scrutiny, as it initially lacked sufficient safeguards for Ukraine’s interests.
As the war rages on, both military and diplomatic developments continue to shape the future of Ukraine and the broader region.
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