Conditions without compromise: Putin speaks of peace again in the language of ultimatums

After cautious signals about a possible dialogue, the Kremlin has returned to its usual rhetoric of demands. Vladimir Putin publicly outlined the conditions under which, according to him, the war can be ended. At the core of these conditions is Ukraine’s renunciation of its course towards NATO membership and the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from four regions that Moscow considers “its own.”

These regions are Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. All of them were declared annexed by Russia, despite the lack of international recognition and ongoing hostilities.

At the same time, Putin made it clear: if diplomacy does not work, the goals will be achieved by military means.

The Complex Reality of Live Broadcast

The press conference, where these statements were made, was structured to be as controlled as possible. But even in such a format, reality began to break through into the hall.

While Putin was answering questions, SMS messages from citizens appeared on the screens. They contained sharp, sometimes desperate remarks — about rising prices, losses at the front, and the gap between official reports and everyday life.

The contrast between the harsh foreign policy rhetoric and internal issues was too noticeable to ignore.

Voices Hard to Ignore

One of the most emotional moments occurred when a widow of a fallen serviceman addressed the president. The woman stated that she had not received the assistance due to her.

Putin expressed condolences, acknowledged the problem, but placed the responsibility on bureaucracy. He promised to “look into it,” without naming deadlines or specific mechanisms. The scene was another reminder of how far official formulas are from the real experiences of people.

The Cost of War

Against the backdrop of these statements, the scale of human losses sounds particularly acute. According to various sources, since the start of the full-scale war, more than 1.5 million people on both sides have been killed or wounded.

This is not a statistic for reports. It is an indicator of the price at which the course is maintained, where compromise is still not considered an option.

Personal — for a Second

Towards the end of the press conference, Putin was asked a question regarding his personal feelings and experiences. The answer was unexpectedly short: “Yes.”

This brevity stood out against the backdrop of long political formulas and seemed almost alien. But it was precisely this that emphasized the overall feeling — behind the external confidence and tough demands, cracks are increasingly appearing.

Statements about peace built on ultimatums, signals of discontent within the country, and the growing cost of war form a single picture that is carefully analyzed far beyond Russia’s borders — including in Israel and Europe. This context remains at the center of attention for the editorial team of NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency.