Putin Claims Ukrainian Lands Are Russian, Blames Kyiv for War

On Thursday, October 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a series of statements claiming Ukrainian territories, including Donbas, are historically Russian and asserting that Russians and Ukrainians are one people. Putin also said Russia does not want war, blaming Kyiv for the conflict and alleging Ukraine has half a million deserters. He dismissed European war warnings as "political schizophrenia" and claimed a strategic defeat of Russia is unrealistic. Putin expressed readiness for negotiations with the US and Ukraine, stating a deal was made with Steve Witkoff to resume trilateral contacts, potentially in mid-November. He avoided calling the war a war, referring to it as a conflict.