Vladimir Putin says Russia will press on in Ukraine war despite fuel shortages

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Moscow will continue its military campaign in Ukraine, aiming to fully control the four occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. He rejected recent peace proposals, including a cease‑fire and a limit on combat to those four areas, saying they would only aid Kyiv. Putin acknowledged that Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries have created fuel shortages but asserted that the government is addressing the problem and is considering restrictions on diesel exports.

The Kremlin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the current frontline dynamics give confidence that Russia’s objectives will be achieved. Russian forces reported taking villages in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, claiming heavy Ukrainian casualties and losses of equipment. In diplomatic talks, Putin linked the reopening of the U.S. channel on Ukraine to the conclusion of the Iran dossier, saying Russia awaits American envoys after the Iranian issue is resolved. He also indicated that contacts with Kyiv are ongoing to discuss new proposals, while the United Nations and Western leaders continue to press for a negotiated settlement.

Separate incidents included a Ukrainian drone strike on the Dubna satellite communications centre near Moscow that wounded civilians, and a Zimbabwean man being charged with recruiting fighters for Russia. These developments underscore the war’s expanding geographical scope and the complex interplay of military, economic and diplomatic pressures.