Putin claims Ukraine as “ours” amid slow Russian advances and sluggish U.S. mediation efforts

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that he considers the whole of Ukraine “ours,” framing Russians and Ukrainians as one people and warning that Russian forces could advance on the city of Sumy as part of efforts to establish a “buffer zone” along the Russia-Ukraine border.

The statements, which underscore Moscow’s territorial ambitions, have drawn sharp rebuke from Kyiv and highlighted a stark discrepancy between Putin’s rhetoric and the slow pace of Russian military gains since U.S. President Donald Trump began pushing for peace negotiations.

Buffer zone strategy and dreams of USSR

Speaking at the forum, Putin reiterated his view that Ukraine’s 1991 declaration of independence and neutrality should shape peace talks, insisting Moscow’s control over roughly one-fifth of Ukraine – Crimea, over 99% of Luhansk, more than 70% of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, and parts of Kharkiv, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk – must be accepted as the “reality on the ground.” He referenced a Russian saying, “Where the foot of a Russian soldier steps, that is ours,” signalling an unyielding stance on territorial gains.

Putin emphasized the creation of a “security buffer zone” in Ukraine’s Sumy region to protect Russian border areas like Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod from Ukrainian cross-border attacks, adding that capturing Sumy city, 25 kilometres from the border, is not a current objective but remains possible.

Putin’s vision to resurrect the influence of the Soviet Union has been a recurring theme in his rhetoric and actions, driven by a desire to restore Russia’s geopolitical dominance and reclaim territories he views as historically Russian. Since the USSR’s dissolution in 1991, Putin has framed the event as a “geopolitical catastrophe,” lamenting the loss of territories like Ukraine, which he claims as “ours” due to shared cultural and historical ties.

Ukrainian response and Western condemnation

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned Putin’s remarks as “complete disdain” for U.S.-led peace efforts, accusing Moscow of seeking to seize more territory and escalate violence.

“While the United States and the rest of the world have called for an immediate end to the killing, Russia’s top war criminal discusses plans to kill more Ukrainians,” Sybiha wrote on X.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his nightly address, described Russia’s intentions as “completely mad” and affirmed that Ukrainian forces are actively defending the Sumy region, holding back Russian advances and “eliminating these killers.” Kyiv and its Western allies, including the U.S. and NATO, reject Russia’s claims to annexed regions as illegal and view Putin’s terms for peace – demanding Ukrainian neutrality, an end to NATO expansion, and recognition of occupied territories – as tantamount to capitulation.

Situation on the ground in Sumy

The Sumy region, bordering Russia’s Kursk Oblast, has become a focal point of Russian military activity since Putin announced plans for a buffer zone in March 2025. Russian forces, using small groups on motorcycles and buggies supported by drones and guided bombs, have captured nine villages, including Novenke, Basivka, Veselivka, and Zhuravka, since April, following Ukraine’s withdrawal from parts of Kursk after a bold incursion in August 2024.

However, Ukrainian officials report that Russian advances are slow, averaging 1 kilometre every two weeks, and lack the strength for a major breakthrough. Sumy Governor Oleh Hryhorov noted that over 52,000 residents have been evacuated due to intensified Russian strikes, including attacks on civilian evacuation vehicles. Ukrainian forces, bolstered by fortifications like a 10-mile defensive zone with mines and trenches, have stabilized the front line, preventing a large-scale Russian offensive. Zelenskyy claimed on June 14 that Ukrainian troops are gradually pushing Russian forces back in Sumy, though fighting remains intense.

Despite Putin’s bold assertions of territorial ambitions, Russian military progress in Sumy and elsewhere has been notably sluggish since Trump’s mediation efforts began in January 2025. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that Russian gains have halved compared to late 2024, with advances in Sumy limited to small villages and no immediate threat to Sumy city, which has a pre-war population of 250,000.

Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets noted that Russia’s advance in Sumy has been “very slow,” despite a reported 50,000 troops massed near the border. This slow pace is attributed to high Russian casualties, reliance on poorly trained infantry, and dwindling Soviet-era equipment stocks, with Russia’s ability to produce only 200 new tanks annually insufficient to sustain momentum. Ukrainian defences, including drone strikes and fortified lines, have further hampered Russian efforts.

Since taking office, Trump has pushed for a swift resolution to the Ukraine conflict, vowing to end it within 24 hours. However, his efforts, including a two-hour call with Putin on May 19 and direct talks in Istanbul on 16 May 16 and 2 June, have yielded little progress. Putin agreed to draft a memorandum for a peace accord but has delayed its submission, prompting accusations from Kyiv and European allies of stalling to gain battlefield advantages.

Trump has expressed frustration, calling Putin “crazy” and warning he is “playing with fire” by escalating drone and missile attacks, such as the record 355-drone assault on Ukrainian cities on 25 May. Despite threats of new sanctions, Trump has hesitated to impose them, citing concerns they could derail peace talks, a shift critics like former CIA Director Leon Panetta call “naive and unsophisticated.” Ukrainian officials, including Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, have urged Russia to produce its memorandum immediately, while Zelenskyy has proposed a trilateral summit with Trump as mediator, a suggestion Putin has rebuffed.

Ukrainian counterattacks, such as the June 1 “Spider Web” drone operation that damaged Russian airbases, demonstrate Kyiv’s resilience despite resource constraints. Western allies, including Germany, continue to provide military aid, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz approving long-range missile production with Ukraine, though Trump’s reluctance to commit new U.S. aid has raised concerns about waning support.

Zelenskyy’s insistence on a ceasefire before any summit and Sybiha’s call for tougher sanctions reflect Ukraine’s frustration with Russia’s intransigence. With no immediate breakthrough in sight, the conflict’s toll – over 1 million Russian casualties since 2022, per Ukrainian estimates – continues to mount, leaving the path to peace uncertain.

With agencies, edited by g.g.

Caption: Participants pass a TV screen that shows Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 28th Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in St. Petersburg, Russia, 20 June 2025. The forum runs from 18 to 21 June 2025. EPA/ANATOLY MALTSEV

Updated: June 21, 2025 - 06:37