Russian President Discusses Ukraine Conflict With Military Chief

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Valery Gerasimov, chief of Russia’s General Staff of the Armed Forces, while wearing military fatigues. Gerasimov told Putin that Ukraine’s leadership was attempting to persuade its Western backers of battlefield gains despite lacking success on the ground.

Putin directed Gerasimov to continue analyzing the role of each Western nation in the conflict. He stated that the analysis would support future decision-making and referenced Moscow’s original aim to demilitarize Ukraine.

The Kremlin later described the situation as a war.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the conflict began as a special military operation but now involves multiple Western capitals standing behind Kyiv.

Zelenskyy challenged Putin to meet in the eastern city of Kostiantynivka, parts of which remain under Ukrainian control. Zelenskyy proposed the meeting as a step toward a diplomatic solution. Lt. Gen. Ihor Romanenko, former deputy head of Ukraine’s general staff, said the Kremlin’s framing aims to explain why operations have extended beyond initial expectations.

He added that the narrative supports plans for wider mobilization after the September parliamentary vote. Volodymyr Fesenko, head of the Kyiv-based Penta think tank, said the approach attributes Ukrainian advances to collective Western support rather than Ukrainian capabilities.

A Ukrainian serviceman on the eastern front said Russian forces often plant flags in claimed areas before being driven back.