'Whole of Ukraine is ours’: Putin claims; issues 'last mistake' warning

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said that Russians and Ukrainians are “one people” and, in that sense, “the whole of Ukraine is ours.” Speaking at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin repeated longstanding claims that Moscow has no aim to destroy Ukraine, but said Kyiv must accept Russia’s territorial advances if peace is to be achieved.

"I have already said many times: Russians and Ukrainians are one people— in this sense, the whole of Ukraine is ours… But we have never questioned Ukraine’s sovereignty," he said.

"At the same time, the conditions under which Ukraine became independent were set forth in the 1991 Declaration of Independence of Ukraine, where it is clearly written in black and white that Ukraine is a non-aligned, non-nuclear, neutral state. It would be good to return to these fundamental values," Putin added.

'Ukraine creating problems for themselves'

In his most direct comments yet about the northeastern city of Sumy, Putin said he does not rule out Russian forces taking the city, citing ongoing shelling from the Ukrainian side. "We have no objective to take Sumy, but in principle I do not rule it out," he said, claiming Ukraine was “creating problems for themselves.”

His comments come amid a renewed offensive in the Sumy region, where Russian troops have reportedly pushed up to 12 kilometres deep. Though Sumy is not part of the territories formally annexed by Moscow, the advance suggests a potential widening of the war.

'Not seeking Ukraine’s surrender but ... '

Putin’s latest remarks also included ominous warnings to Ukraine and firm rejections of its Western-backed diplomatic efforts. “We are not seeking Ukraine’s surrender. We insist on recognition of the realities that have developed on the ground,” he said. While presenting Russia’s position as open to peace, he demanded Ukraine relinquish aspirations to join NATO and accept Moscow’s control over occupied areas.

He also escalated rhetoric over Ukraine’s alleged nuclear ambitions. Responding to a question about the possibility of Kyiv using a “dirty bomb,” Putin called it “their last mistake” and promised a “catastrophic” response.

Meanwhile, Russian drones pounded Ukrainian cities overnight, including Odesa and Kharkiv, killing at least one person and injuring dozens. Fires engulfed apartment blocks, with President Zelenskyy accusing Moscow of “targeted terror.” Despite this, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed new peace talks could be scheduled as early as next week, though Kyiv has yet to confirm any such plans.