Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to continue with airstrikes in Ukraine if a peace deal cannot be reached.

In a statement on Wednesday September 3, 2025, Putin maintained a defiant tone a day before Kyiv’s allies gather in Paris, France to discuss security guarantees.

The three-and-a-half-year war between the two nations appears to have stalled, despite a flurry of diplomatic efforts by US President Donald Trump, who met both his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts in August 2025.

Russian troops kept up their strikes across the country, firing more than 500 drones and missiles at Ukraine killing several people in attacks.

The Russian leader hailed his forces’ progress, saying they were advancing on all fronts.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier that Moscow was still seeking international recognition that parts of Ukraine annexed and occupied by its forces belong to Moscow.

Russia claims to have annexed five Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, as well as the Crimean peninsula, which it seized in 2014.

“In order for a durable peace, the new territorial realities that arose, must be recognised and formalised in accordance with international law,” Lavrov said in remarks published by Moscow on Wednesday.

On the other hand, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga blasted Russia for tabling old ultimatums.

“Russia has not changed its aggressive goals and shows no signs of readiness for meaningful negotiations,” he said, adding: “It’s time to hit the Russian war machine with severe new sanctions and sober Moscow up.”

Ukraine has been calling for Putin to meet Zelensky for face-to-face talks for months, saying it is the only way to break the deadlock over a possible peace deal.

However, Putin said he had invited Zelensky to travel to Moscow if he wanted  a face to face meeting.