Russian President Vladimir Putin declared on December 5, 2025, that Moscow will seize full control of Ukraine's Donbas region unless Ukrainian forces withdraw, escalating tensions in a conflict now entering its fourth year. The statement comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts and battlefield uncertainties across Eastern Europe.
Military Stalemate and Economic Pressures
Ukrainian troops continue to hold strategic positions near Pokrovsk, while Russia claims strikes on critical infrastructure in Kherson and Odesa left tens of thousands without power. The European Commission recently proposed leveraging frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine's military and public services – a move Deputy Security Council Chair Dmitry Medvedev warned could be seen as "tantamount to an act justifying war."
Global Diplomatic Maneuvers
Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing this week to discuss potential peace frameworks, as Western nations seek China's influence to resolve the crisis. Meanwhile, Türkiye urged all parties to protect energy infrastructure following attacks near its Black Sea coast.
Territorial Realities
Russia currently controls 19.2% of Ukrainian territory, including all of Luhansk and most of Donetsk. About 5,000 square kilometers of Donbas remain under Kyiv's control, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisting Moscow "should not be rewarded" for its military actions.
