Russia’s Primary Objective is To Capture Donbas, Putin Says

Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated that Russia's "primary objective" remains capturing Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, emphasizing that Ukraine's recent incursion into Russia's Kursk region had not hindered the Russian military's advance. Speaking at an economic forum in Vladivostok, located in Russia's far east, Putin stressed that full control over Donbas, which includes the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, is a top Russian priority. He reaffirmed his commitment to achieving this goal, despite the significant human and economic costs. Putin claimed that one of the objectives of Ukraine's large-scale attack on the Kursk region on August 6 was to compel Russia to shift its forces, thereby halting the Russian offensive in key areas. However, he noted that this strategy had failed, citing Moscow's resolve to continue its push in Donbas, particularly towards Pokrovsk. The city, he explained, is a crucial road and railway hub for Ukrainian military logistics in the region. He stated that Ukraine's tactic s backfired, weakening its own positions in critical areas, while Russian forces accelerated their operations on the eastern front. Putin also asserted that Ukraine had suffered substantial losses. Regarding the situation in Kursk, Putin highlighted the success of Russian forces in restoring stability and gradually pushing back Ukrainian troops. He noted that Russia had regained control over hundreds of towns in the region. In contrast, Putin expressed a willingness to engage in negotiations with Kyiv, should they be open to it. However, he conditioned any potential talks on the documents agreed upon and initialed during the 2022 negotiations in Istanbul. He also set a precondition for Ukraine to completely withdraw from the Kursk region before any dialogue could proceed, a demand that has been firmly rejected by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Western allies. Source: Qatar News Agency