MOSCOW, Russia – Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for a “transitional administration” to be established in Ukraine, a move he claims could pave the way for democratic elections and a peace agreement.
Speaking on the sidelines of an Arctic forum on Friday, Putin’s remarks signaled his intent to install a pro-Moscow regime in Kyiv, a long-standing Kremlin goal since the beginning of the war in 2022.
Putin’s confidence appears bolstered by a shift in US policy under President Donald Trump, whose administration has taken a less supportive stance toward Ukraine.
Trump’s return to office has led to a thaw in US-Russia relations, with the US leader pressing for a ceasefire while threatening to reduce aid to Kyiv.
This geopolitical shift has emboldened the Kremlin, with Putin reiterating his belief that the current Ukrainian government under President Volodymyr Zelensky lacks legitimacy.
Moscow has accused Zelensky—without evidence—of being a neo-Nazi and drug addict, while questioning his authority after his initial five-year term ended in May 2024.
Under Ukrainian law, elections are suspended during times of major military conflict, delaying any vote until the ongoing war concludes.
On the battlefield, Russia’s defense ministry claimed advances in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region and its own Kursk region, following Putin’s call for troops to capitalize on their superior manpower and weaponry.
“I was saying not so long ago: ‘We will finish them off.’ There are reasons to believe that we will finish them off,” Putin declared, expressing confidence in achieving the goals of what he calls the “special operation.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine reported intensified attacks, with Russia firing 163 drones in an overnight barrage targeting infrastructure and agricultural sites in southern Ukraine.
Kyiv accused Moscow of repeatedly violating a supposed moratorium on striking energy facilities, further escalating tensions.
Putin’s call for a transitional government, ostensibly under UN auspices, comes as Ukraine’s leadership resists negotiations with Moscow.
Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to President Zelensky, criticized Russia’s actions, stating, “Russia is trying to derail the path to peace by choosing to continue the war.”
The Kremlin, however, has sought to frame the European Union as a roadblock to progress, condemning its refusal to lift sanctions on a Russian agricultural bank—a move Moscow sees as a prerequisite for restoring the Black Sea grain deal.
While Putin has framed his proposal for a transitional government as a pathway to peace, critics argue it reflects the Kremlin’s continued ambition to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty.
As fighting intensifies, the prospects for a ceasefire remain uncertain, with Ukraine determined to defend its independence and Russia doubling down on its military objectives.
