‘All of Ukraine Is Ours’: Putin Just Said the Quiet Part Out Loud

Key Points and Summary – Russian President Vladimir Putin made one of his starkest declarations of the war this week, stating at a St. Petersburg forum that “all of Ukraine is ours” because Russians and Ukrainians are “one people.”

-The imperialistic claim, met with applause, effectively torpedoes any near-term hope for peace negotiations. Putin’s comments came as Russia’s ground forces continue to make slow but steady progress in Donetsk and after he presented maximalist demands at the failed Istanbul peace talks.

-Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by warning that Putin’s ambitions extend beyond Ukraine to any country “Russian killers can reach.”

Putin Makes a Big Declaration in the Ukraine War 

In recent months, it has appeared clear that Russia isn’t interested in reaching a peace agreement with Ukraine, more than three years into their war.

In peace talks in Istanbul in early June, Russia presented a list of maximalist demands that it did not expect Ukraine to accept, including the surrender of whole chunks of territory that Russia only partially occupies, international recognition of such, and a pledge to remain neutral.

The war has continued, likely with more intensity than before, and no indication in sight of renewed peace talks.

The Trump Administration appears to have largely lost interest in trying to push the parties to a peace agreement, and the subject of Russia and Ukraine was “sidelined” this week at the NATO summit in The Netherlands.

This week, Vladimir Putin gave an even clearer-than-usual indication that he doesn’t have his eye on peace.

Ukraine War “Realities on the Ground” 

“All of Ukraine is ours,” Putin declared this week, as reported by Bloomberg News.

“I consider Russians and Ukrainians as one people, and in this sense all of Ukraine is ours,” Putin said in a speech last week at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

“We have a saying, or parable — wherever the Russian soldier treads is ours.”

The idea of Russia and Ukraine being a “single whole” has been part of Putin’s rhetoric for a long time, even going back to before the initial invasion in 2022.

The Russian president also asked for recognition of what he called “realities on the ground,” in terms of the areas in Ukraine where Russian soldiers are currently located.

Despite that, he also said he isn’t seeking Ukraine’s “capitulation” to end the war.

In the speech, before the U.S. attack on Iran’s nuclear sites, Putin said that he had “proposals for resolving the Israel-Iran conflict that would address security concerns.”

And since the speech was at an economic conference, Putin also addressed economic matters, including the strength of the BRICS countries, as reported by the Moscow Times.

That report stated that attendees of the conference were shown a “dramatic video,” meant to demonstrate the “history of economic growth.”

“The present day was depicted with the United States as a declining financial hegemon, symbolized by an apocalyptic image of the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles engulfed in flames,” the Moscow Times said of the video. “In contrast, the BRICS group was portrayed as a new, more equitable driver of global growth in the 21st century.”

A Display of Confidence

The Atlantic Council wrote this week about the “All of Ukraine is Ours” speech, and how it indicates that “Russian imperialism is now on full display.”

“The Kremlin leader’s revealing statement is an indication of the increasingly confident mood in Moscow as Russia continues to make slow but steady progress on the Ukrainian battlefield against a backdrop of deepening Western disunity,” Peter Dickinson writes in his analysis. “It also serves as a timely reminder of the unapologetic Russian imperialism that is driving Europe’s largest invasion since World War II.”

Dickinson added that the Russian leader’s comments were met with “what appeared to be spontaneous laughter and applause from many of those attending the St. Petersburg event.” This reaction, he writes, “says much about the normalization of imperialistic sentiment in today’s Russia after more than eleven years of the country’s colonial war against neighboring Ukraine.”

Zelenskyy Reacts 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to Putin’s statement the following day, in a video he posted to his social media accounts.

“Everyone heard the signals from Russia’s leader. Putin put on a performance, particularly for the United States too. He wants all of Ukraine, and had wanted it not just for four years, not since 2014, but long before that,” Zelenskyy said.

“When Putin speaks about Ukraine, and something else about Russian soldiers’ boots on the ground, he’s also speaking about Belarus, the Baltic states, Moldova, the Caucasus, countries like Kazakhstan, and every place on Earth that Russian killers can reach.”

About the Author: Stephen Silver

Stephen Silver is an award-winning journalist, essayist and film critic, and contributor to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Broad Street Review and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. For over a decade, Stephen has authored thousands of articles that focus on politics, technology, and the economy. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @StephenSilver, and subscribe to his Substack newsletter.

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