Putin said Russia would take more land in Ukraine by force if Kyiv and European politicians whom he cast as “young pigs” did not engage over US proposals for a peace settlement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday lashed out at European leaders, calling them “little pigs,” and asserted that Russia would achieve its territorial objectives in Ukraine either through diplomacy or military action.
At an annual Defence Ministry meeting, Putin said Moscow’s so-called “special military operation” would succeed “unconditionally.” He warned that if European leaders and Kyiv were unwilling to engage in serious discussions, Russia would reclaim what he called its historical territories on the battlefield.
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Putin emphasised that Russia has consistently favoured diplomatic solutions in international conflicts, but cautioned that attempts to pressure the country through force have often led to missed opportunities.
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“Russia has been pursuing diplomatic resolutions to disputes wherever there is even the slightest chance of success. Those who believe Russia can be coerced through force are fully responsible for those lost opportunities,” he said.
He further suggested that Russia could expand its territorial control in Ukraine by force if European politicians and Kyiv fail to respond constructively to US-backed peace proposals.
The Russian president also accused the previous US administration of deliberately steering the situation toward armed conflict, claiming it believed Russia could be weakened or destroyed quickly. He criticised European leaders for aligning with Washington, saying: “Europe’s little pigs immediately joined the previous American administration, hoping to profit from the collapse of our country.”
🇷🇺🇪🇺 PUTIN TO EU: “LITTLE PIGS” WHO TRIED TO TAKE REVENGE – AND FAILED
In a televised address, Putin lashed out at the West, accusing European countries of trying to exploit Russia’s weakness for their own gain.
He ridiculed European leaders, mocked their alliance with Biden… pic.twitter.com/5t7x1lwqi1
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 17, 2025
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The United States has held talks with Russia, and separately with Kyiv and European leaders, on proposals for ending the war in Ukraine but no deal has been reached. Kyiv and its European allies are concerned by demands for Ukrainian territorial concessions and Ukraine wants stronger security guarantees.
Putin said Russia, which sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in 2022, was advancing on all fronts and would achieve its aims by force or through diplomacy.
“If the opposing side and their foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive discussions, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means,” Putin said.
Russia says it controls about 19% of Ukraine, including the Crimea peninsula which it annexed in 2014, as well as most of the eastern Donbas region, much of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, and slivers of four other regions.
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Russia says Crimea, Donbas, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are now parts of Russia. Ukraine says it will never accept that, and almost all countries consider the regions to be part of Ukraine.
Defence Minister Andrei Belousov said a task for 2026 was to increase the pace of Russia’s offensive. A slide shown during a speech he delivered said Russia was spending 5.1% of gross domestic product on the war in 2025.
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