Putin: Eastern Ukraine is Russian territory... and we are not preparing for war with Europe

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Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed on Thursday that the lands controlled by his country's forces in eastern Ukraine are, from his point of view, historically Russian territory, reiterating at the same time his assertion that Moscow is not preparing to wage war against Europe.

Reuters quoted Putin as saying that eastern Ukraine is "historically Russian territory," in statements that reflect Moscow's adherence to its position on the Ukrainian regions controlled by its forces.

The Russian President added that his country is not preparing for any war with European countries, denying the existence of Russian plans to wage a military confrontation with them.

Regarding diplomatic efforts, Putin explained that the upcoming tripartite negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States will address ensuring the security of Russia and Ukraine.

Putin's statements come after he agreed, in principle, to resume tripartite negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, following talks he held on Wednesday in St. Petersburg with US envoy Steve Witkoff.

According to the Associated Press, the talks are expected to begin after November 10, without specifying a final date for their holding.

Witkov had spoken of new momentum in peace efforts, following his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Norway.

However, the differences between Moscow and Kiev remain deep regarding the conditions for ending the war, despite previous rounds of technical talks held in the UAE and Switzerland, which did not achieve tangible progress except for prisoner exchanges.

On the ground, the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, was subjected to intense Russian bombardment with ballistic missiles overnight, while Moscow announced the interception of hundreds of Ukrainian drones.

Zelensky said that Russia launched attacks that affected 12 Ukrainian regions, killing at least 4 people and wounding dozens.

He explained that Kiev was subjected to an attack that included 21 ballistic missiles in 3 waves, causing damage to residential buildings, energy facilities, a railway station, and the metro network.

On the other hand, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the interception of 808 Ukrainian drones overnight, including hundreds of drones that the Russian authorities said were heading towards Moscow.

These developments highlight the magnitude of the challenges facing American efforts to revive negotiations, in light of the continuation of military operations and the divergence of the two parties’ positions regarding territory and security guarantees.

The areas that Putin spoke about are part of internationally recognized Ukrainian territory, while Kiev refuses to consider Russian military control over them as a basis for changing their legal status.