By John Q. Hosedrinker 
In a recent statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of lacking a desire for peace, suggesting that Moscow would achieve its objectives through military means if a peaceful resolution was not pursued. These comments came after a significant Russian attack, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to express his desire for peace while indicating Russia’s intention to continue the war. Putin’s remarks coincided with a meeting between Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at resolving the conflict. Furthermore, Russia claimed to have captured several towns in eastern Ukraine, a claim disputed by Ukrainian military officials who reported ongoing defensive operations in the affected areas, adding to the complexities of the ongoing conflict.
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Putin says Russia will achieve its Ukraine aims by force if Kyiv doesn’t want peace, which is a statement that, frankly, leaves little room for interpretation. It boils down to this: if Ukraine doesn’t agree to Russia’s demands, Russia will continue its military actions to achieve them. It’s almost comical how the aggressor is now suggesting the victim doesn’t desire peace. The absurdity is amplified when you consider Russia has been trying to achieve these aims through force since the very beginning.
This declaration is a direct admission of Russia’s intentions, confirming that any peace deal, even one heavily favoring Russia, won’t bring true peace. Their goals are absolute, leaving no space for compromise. This approach strongly implies that even if a deal is reached, Russia will only consider it a temporary pause, and will find a way to take by force what they want, later.
When you look at it clearly, it’s pretty straightforward. If Russia truly desired peace, they could simply withdraw from Ukraine, ending the conflict. Instead, Putin is essentially saying, “If you don’t surrender to our terms, we will keep fighting and killing you.” If a peaceful solution hasn’t been found after years of fighting, what does that really say about the true desires of Russia?
It seems Russia aims to achieve its goals by force. It’s difficult to see how this isn’t just a continuation of the strategy that has been in place all along. And if Russia was capable of achieving its aims by force, surely they would have done so already, or at least they’d have made more significant progress than they have. It’s hard to interpret this statement as anything other than a sign of desperation.
This entire situation points to one crucial reality: Russia needs to be forced into a position of capitulation. This could manifest as a shift in the regime or some form of societal collapse or uprising. The precise outcome doesn’t matter as much as the fact that the current Russian state is behaving violently and isn’t reliable. Ukraine is willing to take on a significant share of the burden, but they desperately need support.
Putin’s actions and words expose the manipulation at play. He’s trying to frame Ukraine as unwilling to negotiate, as if that justifies the ongoing aggression. The core of the problem, however, is Russia’s invasion. The fact that the invasion’s justification—the supposed presence of Nazis—doesn’t hold up, reinforces the idea that Russia’s goals are much more extensive than originally presented.
The world needs to see that Russia’s actions are unacceptable. Europe has made it clear that no territory in Europe can be acquired by force. The hundreds of billions in frozen Russian assets can be utilized for reparations or defensive weapons for Ukraine. Russia needs to be contained, and its economy needs to be depleted.
The consistent message is that if Russia had the ability to achieve its goals by force, they would have done so already. This desperation is evident, and the damage inflicted on Russia by Ukraine’s resistance indicates that Putin is running out of options. The threat of using force, after years of trying, is more of an admission of failure.
It’s crucial to acknowledge the reality: Ukraine is not the aggressor. Russia is. It’s Russia that doesn’t want peace, and Putin’s statement confirms this. His words and actions consistently reveal a pattern of manipulation. The international community, including even nations like China and North Korea, should be appalled by Russia’s actions.
The bottom line is this: Russia is not doing well in this war, and its economy is close to collapsing. To suggest that Ukraine, after everything they’ve endured, would simply fold is absurd. Russia had its chance in 2022. They haven’t achieved their goals, other than reshaping the map a bit, and they are now reduced to repeating empty threats. Moscow delenda est.