Putin Asserts Ukraine as Russian Territory, Demands Recognition of Annexed Regions

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his stance that Ukraine is inherently part of Russia, stating in an interview with Sky News Arabia that "all of Ukraine is ours." He emphasized that peace negotiations must recognize the results of referendums held in 2022 in four Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—which Russia annexed despite international condemnation. These referendums were dismissed as "shams" by the UK's foreign secretary. Putin framed the annexations as democratic, stating, "The will of the people is what we call democracy." He accused Ukraine's leadership of being influenced by external sponsors rather than national interests, claiming these sponsors seek to prolong the conflict for geopolitical gains. On June 21, 2025, Putin also threatened a nuclear strike on Ukraine for the first time in six months, warning of "catastrophic" consequences if Kyiv used a dirty bomb against Russian forces. He described such an action as a "colossal mistake" and vowed a "very tough" response. Concurrently, Russia claimed to have captured the village of Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine's Donetsk region, with over 200 Russian UAVs reportedly targeting the area. Putin's remarks underscore Moscow's uncompromising position in negotiations, further dimming hopes for a diplomatic resolution to the war. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on June 20 that Ukraine is developing interceptor drones to counter Russian drone attacks, particularly targeting Iranian-designed Shahed drones. Zelensky highlighted the increasing production of these drones as part of Ukraine's broader defense strategy, supported by international partnerships ahead of the NATO summit. The conflict continues to escalate, with Russia controlling approximately a fifth of Ukraine, including Crimea and significant portions of eastern and southern regions.