Overview

• At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 20, Putin insisted that Russians and Ukrainians are “one people” and declared “all of Ukraine is ours.”
• He said there is no immediate plan to conquer the northern region of Sumi but refused to rule out a future offensive where Russian forces have already formed a 10–12 km buffer.
• Putin cited an old Russian maxim that territory becomes Russian “where the boot of a Russian soldier steps.”
• The president warned that Russia’s terms for any peace negotiations will grow more stringent even as he claims to have repeatedly proposed ending military actions.
• His remarks coincide with prisoner exchanges agreed by both sides and faltering ceasefire talks over Moscow’s growing territorial demands.