Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday emphasised that the Kremlin is not interested in prolonging the Ukraine war and is seeking a diplomatic solution to end the “war.”
Reportedly referring to the conflict as a war for the first time since his troops marched into Ukraine on 24 February, Putin told reporters, “Our goal is not to spin the flywheel of military conflict, but, on the contrary, to end this war,” adding that Moscow will “strive” to halt hostilities as soon as possible.
Noting that the “intensification of hostilities leads to unjustified losses,” Putin stressed that he would seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Ukraine.
“All armed conflicts end one way or another with some kind of negotiations on the diplomatic track,” he remarked
“Sooner or later, any parties in a state of conflict sit down and make an agreement. The sooner this realisation comes to those who oppose us, the better. We have never given up on this,” he claimed.
"You guys give up? Or are you thirsty for more?"
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) December 22, 2022
Kevin McCallister
Total combat losses of the enemy from Feb 24 to Dec 22: pic.twitter.com/UguwdpjEJo
He claimed that “Russia made it through the year quite confidently” and that the Ukrainian conflict would not hinder Moscow’s plans for the future. He also reiterated the “special operation” was “an absolutely forced and necessary measure,” referring to his claim that Russia invaded Ukraine to contain the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) eastward expansion.
When asked about the United States’ decision to provide Ukraine with the Patriot anti-missile defence system, Putin rejected claims that the system is a threat to Russian air operations in Ukraine. He noted that weapon systems are “old” and do not work like Russia’s S-300 missile defence system.
Putin assured that Russia will find an antidote to the Patriot system and that the Russian military will “crack” it.
“It is nothing but an attempt to prolong the conflict, that’s all,” he insisted.
Washington agreed to supply Kyiv with $1.85 billion worth of advanced weapons, including the much-vaunted Patriot system, during Ukrainian President Volodymyr’s visit to the US on Wednesday.
Another 🇺🇸 military aid package for the #UAarmy is not a Xmas present.These are what is necessary for work: on holidays & weekdays,during the day & night,in the snow,rain & heat.
— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) December 21, 2022
This is a struggle for life,liberty, the pursuit of happiness.
TNX you @POTUS @SecDef & the 🇺🇸 people pic.twitter.com/kSMmpU7qvv
Zelensky called it a “very important step to create a secure airspace for Ukraine” and the only way to defend against Russia’s strikes on Ukraine’s energy sector, people, and critical infrastructure. Moscow has repeatedly warned that the delivery of the Patriot system would be interpreted as a declaration of war by the US.
White House spokesperson John Kirby dismissed Putin’s latest remarks, saying the Russian President has shown “absolutely zero indication” that he is interested in a diplomatic solution. “Everything he [Putin] is doing on the ground and in the air bespeaks a man who wants to continue to visit violence upon the Ukrainian people,” Kirby stressed.
The war in Ukraine is entering its tenth month, with the Ukrainian Defence Ministry claiming on Thursday that it has killed 100,950 Russian servicemen.
Furthermore, Russia has suffered staggering military losses in terms of equipment. Ukraine claims that Moscow has lost over 3,000 tanks, nearly 6,000 armoured combat vehicles, 283 jets, 267 helicopters, and 1,693 drones.
Western intelligence agencies estimate that Russia has lost over 60% of the manpower and equipment it sent to Ukraine, which has made Russian troops “combat ineffective.” The Ukrainian military has launched devastating counter-offensives and recaptured more than half of the territories that Russia initially seized.