Putin hints at possible takeover of Ukraine’s Sumy city in ongoing border offensive
His comments, made at a major economic forum, reflect Moscow’s growing territorial ambitions and come as Russian troops advance deeper into northeastern Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he does not rule out the possibility of Russian forces seizing the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, signalling a potential new escalation in Moscow’s ongoing military campaign along the border.
Speaking at the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, Putin said while capturing Sumy was not currently an objective, it remained on the table due to repeated Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory.
“We have no objective to take Sumy, but in principle I do not rule it out... They pose a constant threat to us, constantly shelling the border areas,” he said.
Sumy lies just 30 kilometres from the Russian border and has been among the hardest-hit areas since the war began in February 2022.
Putin, who made a series of aggressive remarks during the forum, reinforced his claim that Ukraine has no legitimate statehood, describing Ukrainians and Russians as a single people.
“I consider Russians and Ukrainians to be one people. In that sense, all of Ukraine is ours,” he declared.
“There is a saying: where ever a Russian soldier sets foot, that is ours.”
His comments raise further doubts about the chances of renewed peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, as Russia continues to demand more Ukrainian territory as a condition for any ceasefire.
The remarks come against the backdrop of Russia’s expanded operations in Ukraine’s northeastern regions. In recent weeks, Russian forces have captured several settlements in Sumy, pushing up to 12 kilometres inside Ukrainian territory, according to Putin.
Although Sumy is not among the five regions Russia claims to have annexed, the Russian leader has ordered troops to establish what he calls a "buffer zone" on the Ukrainian side of the border.
The push follows a Ukrainian cross-border counterattack launched in August last year from the Sumy region into Russia’s Kursk area. Ukrainian troops had seized dozens of settlements before being forced back earlier this year by Russian forces, who were reportedly supported by thousands of North Korean soldiers.
Despite growing international calls for a ceasefire, Moscow has remained firm, insisting Ukraine must make further territorial concessions before any talks can take place.
