Putin says Ukraine peace must be won on battlefield, not at talks

At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that any peace settlement with Ukraine will be achieved on the battlefield, not through negotiations. He reiterated that Russia is prepared to negotiate only on conditions it deems acceptable, and that short‑term prospects for a diplomatic resolution are nonexistent.

Putin outlined three possible Russian courses of action: a decisive escalation to end the conflict on terms favorable to Moscow, continuation of the current war of attrition, or freezing the fighting. The remarks came amid ongoing Western debate over how to pressure Russia and amid reports of intensified drone strikes and battlefield casualties on both sides.