Kremlin warns Ukraine may lose more land without peace deal
3 Min Read
A top Kremlin aide warns Ukraine against rejecting peace terms, framing continued resistance as a path to further conflict and territorial loss.
-
In this photo, taken from a video released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, on Monday, June 9, 2025, Russian soldiers ride an Akatsyia self-propelled gun on an undisclosed location in Ukraine (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
A senior Kremlin official has warned that Ukraine could face additional territorial losses if it refuses to accept Russia's proposed terms to end the ongoing war, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.
Vladimir Medinsky, a prominent advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, delivered the message as the war enters its fourth year. “With Russia, it's impossible to fight a long war,” Medinsky said, referencing Russia’s historical endurance, including its 21-year war with Sweden in the 18th century.
“We want peace,” he added. “But if Ukraine keeps being driven by the national interests of others, then we will be simply forced to respond.”
Medinsky's remarks underscore Moscow’s positioning: that Russia has the stamina for prolonged warfare and sees Ukraine's resistance as externally fueled, particularly by Western powers. The comments come as diplomatic channels remain largely frozen and international mediation efforts have failed to yield meaningful progress.
His statement also reaffirms Russia's longstanding narrative that it is open to negotiations, on its own terms, while warning of escalating consequences if Kiev continues to reject them.
32 Ukrainian drones intercepted overnight
Separately, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that it had intercepted and destroyed 32 Ukrainian drones during the night. The drones were reportedly targeting sites across several regions, including Voronezh, Kursk, Tambov, Rostov, and Crimea.
According to the Ministry, around half of the drones were downed over the southern Voronezh region, while the rest were intercepted across other territories. The statement did not mention any casualties or damage resulting from the drone activity.
Russia fully ready to hand bodies of 6,000 Ukrainian service members
Addressing the issue of prisoner exchange, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow is fully ready to implement the Istanbul agreement to hand bodies of 6,000 Ukrainian service members over to Kiev.
"Russia is fully ready to implement the agreements that were reached in Istanbul, and we expect Ukraine to show the same approach," she stressed at a briefing.
'Non-human nature of Kiev regime'
According to Zakharova, on June 7, Russia delivered 1,212 bodies to the designated area on the Belarus-Ukraine border. "However, the Kiev regime refused to accept them, which, I think, shocked everyone," the diplomat noted. "This is not the first, or only, proof of the non-human nature of the Kiev regime but definitely the strongest one," she added.
Now well into its fourth year, the Russia-Ukraine war shows little sign of resolution. While the battlefield remains active and fluid, both sides continue to trade claims and accusations. Independent verification remains challenging amid the ongoing fighting and restricted media access.
Russia's latest warning to Ukraine, combined with stepped-up military activity, signals that Moscow intends to maintain pressure both on the ground and at the diplomatic level, particularly as global attention shifts and Western support for Kiev faces increasing political scrutiny.
Read more: Russia, US to hold 3rd round of bilateral consultations soon: Ryabkov
