By Mohammed Yousif 
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared on Thursday that Russia’s main objective in the ongoing Ukraine conflict is to capture the eastern Donbas region. This statement came a day after Russia launched deadly strikes on Ukraine’s western Lviv region and following recent advances by Russian forces in Donbas.
Putin made these comments at a forum in Vladivostok, emphasizing that despite Ukraine’s recent counter-offensive into Russia’s Kursk region, the Russian advance in Donbas has accelerated. He claimed that Ukraine’s actions in Kursk were designed to divert Russian troops and hinder the offensive in Donbas.
Since Russia’s offensive began in February 2022, initially aimed at capturing Kyiv, the focus has shifted to conquering eastern Ukraine. Putin stressed that the Ukrainian push into Kursk did not deter Moscow’s operations in occupied territories of Ukraine.
“The aim of the enemy in Kursk was to distract us, force us to worry, and to slow our advance, especially in Donbas, which remains our primary objective,” Putin said. He noted that Ukraine’s well-prepared units in Kursk had inadvertently sped up Russia’s progress in Donbas.
Putin also reported that Russian forces have begun to push Ukrainian troops out of Kursk, where they have held positions for nearly a month. According to Putin, Russia’s military has stabilized the situation and is gradually reclaiming territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky countered these claims, asserting that Ukraine continues to maintain its positions in Kursk. Zelensky remarked that the Ukrainian attack aimed to highlight to Russia what is more important to Putin: the occupation of Ukrainian territory or the protection of his own population.
Despite Putin’s assertions, Ukraine has faced substantial casualties. In Donetsk, a 74-year-old man was killed by a Russian shell, as reported by regional authorities. Additionally, Ukrainian shelling resulted in a death in Russia’s Belgorod border region, according to regional officials.
Putin’s rhetoric has hardened in recent days, describing the Russian military’s duty as defending its territory and expelling the enemy. He stated that Russia remains open to negotiations with Ukraine but under conditions involving the surrender of four regions: Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
Earlier, Putin indicated that Russia was ready to negotiate based on a previously discussed deal from Istanbul in 2022, though details of this deal were never publicly disclosed. He reiterated that any negotiation must align with the documents agreed upon in Istanbul.
Both sides reported new casualties near the frontlines on Thursday, reflecting the ongoing and intense nature of the conflict.