British News Agency

Speaking harshly at the annual meeting of Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Putin criticized Ukraine’s European allies and said that, if necessary, Russia would reclaim its territories by force.

Putin said, “If the opposing side and its foreign supporters refuse to enter into substantive negotiations, Russia will ensure the liberation of its historical lands by military means.”

On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv would not recognize any part of the eastern Donbas region as Russian territory, either legally or de facto.

In his remarks, Putin said that Russia is “in dialogue with the United States,” but that meaningful cooperation with Europe on peace is unlikely under the current leadership.

Putin added, “I hope the same (cooperation) will also take place with Europe.”

He said, “With the current political elites this is unlikely to be possible, but in any case it will become inevitable as we continue to grow stronger—if not with the current politicians, then when the existing elites in Europe change.”