Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Moscow will seize Ukraine's Donbas region 'by military or other means,' reaffirming a key demand amid ongoing conflict. Putin, arriving in New Delhi for a summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasized that Russia aims to 'liberate Donbas and Novorossiya' by any means necessary, including military force. He stated, 'We will finish it when we achieve the goals set at the beginning of the special military operation, when we free these territories.' Meanwhile, Ukraine and its allies are engaged in diplomatic efforts, with Ukrainian officials traveling to the US for peace talks and recent negotiations involving US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The US and Ukrainian negotiators have drafted an 'updated and refined peace framework,' though details remain undisclosed, and key issues such as territorial security guarantees and the future of Ukrainian territories continue to hinder progress. Putin's stance remains uncompromising, demanding Ukrainian troop withdrawal from Donbas, which Moscow controls about 85% of, and rejecting parts of the US peace plan. Western European leaders have expressed concern that the US may compromise Ukraine's territorial integrity without adequate security guarantees. Despite Putin's aggressive rhetoric, analysts estimate that Russian forces could only fully seize the Donetsk region by 2027 at the current rate of advancement. The conflict persists as Ukraine insists on maintaining its territorial integrity and securing firm security guarantees, with ongoing international diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.