Putin asserts: Lands lost by Kyiv "historically belong to Russia"
According to RIA Novosti, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on October 22 that territories previously controlled by the Kyiv administration are not inherent parts of Ukraine but rather historically Russian land.
Putin made the remarks in response to a question posed by Pavel Zarubin, journalist with the Vesti news agency, following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent statement expressing willingness to accept territorial losses. "My position on this matter is clear: these are not their lands—they are historically Russian territory," Putin said.
He noted that residents in these regions had previously voted for independence and joined Russia, making the notion of "territorial loss" inaccurate in this context.
On October 21, Zelenskyy stated he was prepared to relinquish land lost during the conflict. When asked by Fox News reporters whether he would accept a peace agreement freezing the conflict along current contact lines, he provided an affirmative response.
On October 1, speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club, Putin emphasized that Russia's ongoing special military operation is not driven by territorial aims but by the protection of people. He stated that the issue is not about "a piece of land," but about creating conditions for lasting peace rather than temporary ceasefires.
He also maintained that the world should be multipolar, and that the security of certain nations should not come at the expense of others' security. Putin described this principle as foundational to any future international order. He added that if Ukraine and its Western supporters accept terms acceptable to Russia, ending hostilities within Ukraine would become a more viable option.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879813682993280/
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