Putin: Ukrainian statehood is threatened if the war continues

(Patria) - Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Tuesday that Ukraine's statehood could suffer an "irreparable blow" if the pattern of war continues, and Russia will never be forced to abandon its achievements, Reuters reported.

Putin made his televised comments a day after Switzerland agreed to host a global summit at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Putin dismissed the "so-called peace formulas" being discussed in the West and Ukraine and what he called the "prohibitive demands" they entail.

"Well, if they don't want to (negotiate), then don't," he said.

"It is now quite obvious, not only that the (Ukrainian) counteroffensive has failed, but the initiative is entirely in the hands of the Russian armed forces. If it continues like this, Ukrainian statehood could suffer an irreparable, very serious blow," he added.

Putin's statements on the course of the war have become increasingly confident and aggressive in recent months, with the failure of the Ukrainian counteroffensive to achieve any significant gains against well-entrenched Russian forces. Russia currently controls 17.5% of Ukraine's territory.

Putin said that talking about negotiations is "an attempt to motivate us to abandon the gains we have made over the past year and a half. But that is impossible. Everyone understands that it is impossible".

Zelenskyy's peace formula calls, among other things, for the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity, an end to hostilities, and the withdrawal of Russian troops. Russia says any negotiations would have to take into account the "new reality" created by its forces on the ground.