{"id":33199,"date":"2025-12-18T07:00:49","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T05:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=33199"},"modified":"2025-12-18T08:39:34","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T06:39:34","slug":"putin-rejects-territorial-concessions-amid-peace-talks-says-european-swines-wanted-to-feast-on-russias-collapse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/putin-rejects-territorial-concessions-amid-peace-talks-says-european-swines-wanted-to-feast-on-russias-collapse\/","title":{"rendered":"Putin rejects territorial concessions amid peace talks, says \u2018European swines\u2019 wanted to feast on Russia\u2019s collapse"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

7 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russian President Vladimir Putin made clear that Moscow will not compromise on its territorial demands in Ukraine, despite intensifying diplomatic efforts led by the United States to broker a peace deal.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at the annual meeting of Russia\u2019s Defense Ministry on December 17, 2025, Putin warned that Russia would continue using military force to seize territory if diplomacy fails, directly challenging the premise of ongoing negotiations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe would prefer to do this and eliminate the root causes of the conflict through diplomacy,\u201d Putin said. \u201cIf the opposing country and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive discussions, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands through military means.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His remarks came as U.S. President Donald Trump has stepped up efforts to push all sides toward a negotiated settlement, claiming earlier this week that \u201cwe\u2019re closer now than we have been.\u201d However, Putin\u2019s speech underscored the widening gap between Washington\u2019s optimism and Moscow\u2019s hardened position, particularly on the question of territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Territory Remains Central Obstacle in Talks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The status of occupied Ukrainian territory remains the most intractable issue in the peace talks, alongside demands for long-term security guarantees for Kyiv. Russia has illegally annexed parts of Ukraine\u2019s eastern Donbas region but has not fully conquered it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War, Russia\u2019s current pace of advance would not allow it to seize the entire region until August 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ukraine, on the other hand, also rejected any concession of territory. On Monday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that Kyiv would not recognize the temporarily occupied parts of Donbas as legally or de facto Russian. Responding indirectly to Putin\u2019s invocation of \u201chistorical lands,\u201d Zelenskyy warned that such language poses a broader threat to Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are other countries in Europe that someone in Russia may one day call their \u2018historical lands,\u2019\u201d Zelenskyy said. \u201cWe need real protection from this Russian history of madness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Ukrainian<\/a>
Ukrainian and European leaders posing for a group photo with the U.S. president\u2019s special envoy in Berlin, Germany, on December 15, 2025. (Image Credit: X)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The competing positions highlight the core dilemma facing negotiators: while Russia insists that territorial concessions are non-negotiable, Ukraine and its European allies view such demands as a dangerous precedent that undermines European security as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


US Engagement and European Skepticism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Putin sought to draw a clear distinction between Russia\u2019s engagement with Washington and its relationship with European capitals. He said Moscow is \u201cengaged in a dialogue with the U.S.,\u201d and signaled cautious openness toward American-led diplomacy. At the same time, he dismissed the prospect of meaningful engagement with Europe under the current leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI hope the same will happen with Europe,\u201d Putin said. \u201cIt is unlikely that this is possible with the current political elites, but in any case, it will be inevitable as we continue to strengthen. If not with the current politicians, then when the current elites in Europe change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

European leaders, for their part, remain deeply skeptical of Moscow\u2019s intentions. While supporting U.S. diplomatic efforts, they have emphasized the need for robust security guarantees for Ukraine and have warned against any agreement that rewards Russian aggression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Putin\u2019s comments came ahead of a key summit in Brussels, where European leaders are debating new mechanisms to fund Ukraine\u2019s defense, including the possible use of frozen Russian assets or additional joint borrowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Europe Debates Funding Ukraine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the European Parliament on Wednesday, stressing that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security and remain committed to supporting Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is no more important act of European defense than supporting Ukraine\u2019s defense,\u201d von der Leyen said. The next [few] days will be a crucial step for securing this. It\u2019s up to us to choose how we fund Ukraine\u2019s fight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Trump-Putin<\/a>
U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin during a talk at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. (Image Credit: White House)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Two proposals are currently under discussion among EU members: one that would channel proceeds from frozen Russian assets toward Ukraine, and another based on borrowing to sustain long-term military and financial assistance. The debate reflects growing concern in Europe that any weakening of support could embolden Moscow at a critical stage of the war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Harsh Rhetoric Toward the West<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Putin\u2019s speech also featured unusually harsh language directed at Ukraine\u2019s Western backers. He blamed the West for the war and accused European leaders of seeking to profit from Russia\u2019s downfall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEuropean swine wanted to feast on the collapse of Russia,\u201d he said, using the term \u201cpodsvinki,\u201d a slur previously employed by senior Russian officials. He also accused the previous U.S. administration of Joe Biden of \u201cinitiating\u201d the conflict, claiming that Washington\u2019s European allies had eagerly joined those efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cImmediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it seemed to us that we would quickly become members of the so-called civilized family of European nations,\u201d Putin said. \u201cToday it turns out there is no civilization there, only complete degradation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and has consistently rejected accusations of aggression, instead portraying the war as a defensive response to Western actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u2018Root Causes\u2019 and Justifications for War<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Putin reiterated long-standing Kremlin claims about the so-called \u201croot causes\u201d of the conflict, including Ukraine\u2019s aspirations to join the EU and NATO, alleged violations of promises not to expand NATO eastward, discrimination against ethnic Russians, and what he described as the \u201cdenazification\u201d of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russian officials have repeatedly used these arguments to justify the invasion, though no evidence has been presented to substantiate the claims. With Putin again insisting on achieving these objectives, analysts say the likelihood of a near-term ceasefire remains low.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Russia-Ukraine<\/a>
Fire and smoke rise in the aftermath of a Russian drone strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 6, 2025 (Background), Ukrainian President Zelenskyy (L), and Russian President Putin (R). (Image Credit: Gleb Garanich\/Reuters\/Sputnik\/Mikhail Metzel\/IRIA)<\/sup><\/em>

<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n


Military Gains and Battlefield Claims<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addressing senior military officers, Putin claimed that 2025 marked \u201can important stage\u201d in achieving the objectives of what Moscow calls its \u201cspecial military operation.\u201d He said Russian forces have seized and now \u201cfirmly\u201d hold the strategic initiative along the entire front line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Russian Armed Forces have liberated over 300 settlements this year,\u201d Putin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that Russian troops continue to advance despite extensive Western military assistance to Ukraine, including advanced weapons and training programs. According to Putin, Russian forces are \u201cgrinding down the opponent, including its elite units trained in Western military centers,\u201d and retain the capacity to accelerate offensives in key directions if required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Nuclear Signals and Military Modernization<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Putin also used the speech to emphasize Russia\u2019s military modernization, with particular focus on its nuclear forces. He claimed that 92 percent of Russia\u2019s nuclear arsenal is now modernized, asserting that no other nuclear power can match this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are developing new weapons and new means of destruction,\u201d he said. \u201cNo one else in the world has them, and they will not appear anytime soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He specifically highlighted the nuclear-capable intermediate-range Oreshnik ballistic missile, saying it will officially enter combat duty by the end of the year. Russia first tested a conventionally armed version of the missile in November 2024 during a strike on a Ukrainian facility in Dnipro, and Putin has repeatedly claimed it is impossible to intercept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, Putin said Russia\u2019s navy was expanded in 2025 with new submarines and 19 surface ships, and that systems such as the nuclear-propelled Burevestnik and Poseidon have been deployed following successful tests.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Russian<\/a>
Russian Servicemen line up by Yars intercontinental ballistic missile systems of the 54th Guards Rocket Division of the 27th Guards Missile Army of the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces based in Teikovo, Ivanovo Region. (Image Credit: Vladimir Smirnov)<\/sup><\/em>

<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n


Peace Prospects Remain Uncertain<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite Trump\u2019s public confidence about progress toward peace, Putin\u2019s speech suggested that Moscow is prepared for a prolonged conflict if its demands are not met. While signaling openness to dialogue with Washington, he left little doubt that Russia intends to press its military campaign until it secures what it considers its strategic and territorial objectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As diplomatic efforts continue in parallel with fighting on the ground, Putin\u2019s remarks reinforced a central reality confronting negotiators: any peace deal will have to bridge fundamentally incompatible visions of Ukraine\u2019s future, Europe\u2019s security order, and Russia\u2019s role within it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Russian President Vladimir Putin made clear that Moscow will not compromise on its territorial demands in Ukraine, despite intensifying diplomatic efforts led by the United States to broker a peace deal. Putin warned that Russia would continue using military force to seize territory if diplomacy fails.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33201,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[62,1],"tags":[75,459,24,357,59,49,71,401,20,48,22,128,751],"class_list":["post-33199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europe","category-news","tag-conflict","tag-donbas","tag-eu","tag-europe","tag-nato","tag-peace","tag-politics","tag-putin","tag-russia","tag-territorial-dispute","tag-ukraine","tag-war","tag-zelenskyy"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Russian-President-Putin.jpg?fit=690%2C370&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7jJWb-8Dt","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33199"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33199\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33204,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33199\/revisions\/33204"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33199"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33199"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}