Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, Dec. 17, claimed that Russian forces have seized the strategic initiative along the entire front line in Ukraine, while pledging to expand Moscow’s so-called security buffer zone and continue developing new weapons systems.
Speaking at a meeting of Russia’s Defense Ministry board, Putin said 2025 marked a “significant milestone” in the broader military campaign.
According to him, Russian troops have occupied more than 300 settlements this year and are capable of accelerating offensive operations in “strategically important areas” of the front.
At the same time, Putin dismissed warnings of a potential Russian attack on Europe as “lies and nonsense,” accusing European politicians of fueling hysteria and “driving fears into people’s heads” about an inevitable confrontation with Russia.
Briefing allies at Tuesday’s 33rd Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Ramstein) meeting, Ukraine’s top military commander Oleksandr Syrsky, described the situation as “difficult” but said Russia has failed to achieve major operational gains.
He claimed Ukrainian counterattacks had pushed Russian forces back in Kupyansk, with Ukrainian troops regaining control of nearly 90% of the city. Source-Kyiv Post
