Putin predicts Ukraine will lose western territories, claims they historically belong to neighbors

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Ukraine will eventually lose its western territories, asserting that these lands historically belonged to Russia, Poland, Hungary, and Romania. Speaking to Russian Navy personnel on Sunday, Putin claimed that the western part of Ukraine was always considered part of Russia.

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I am sure, by the way, that, sooner or later, Ukraine will lose these western territories. And what belonged to Poland, Hungary, and Romania will return, sooner or later – maybe not tomorrow, not the day after tomorrow, in a year or two, 10 years or 15 years – but everything will return, historically, to its place.

Putin reiterated his narrative that Russia was "forced" into the "special military operation" to end hostilities initiated by the West and Kyiv. He described the western regions of Ukraine as a "gift" from Joseph Stalin, who he alleged incorporated them into a single state. Putin expressed certainty that these territories would eventually return to their historical owners, though he did not specify a timeline.

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There was only one guarantor of Ukraine's territorial integrity, and that was Russia. But they considered it necessary, possible, and beneficial for them to declare Russia an enemy and say that Russians are not a titular nation in Ukraine, which is complete nonsense and absurdity.

Furthermore, Putin positioned Russia as the sole guarantor of Ukraine's territorial integrity. He argued that Ukraine's declaration of Russia as an enemy and denial of Russians as a titular nation within Ukraine is "nonsense." He also claimed that Ukraine has historically been divided along the Dnieper River, with the left bank always oriented towards and considered part of Russia. He blamed Lenin for giving the Donbas region to Ukraine, stating Russia must "restore everything to its historical course."

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Historically, Ukraine has always been divided into the left and right banks of the Dnieper River, and the left bank has always been considered not only oriented towards Russia but even part of Russia.

Concluding his remarks, Putin predicted that the war would end with "the defeat of the enemy and the victory of Russia." He characterized the internal situation in Ukraine as a chaotic infighting among factions, likening them to "spiders in a jar" while they allegedly divide stolen funds.

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The war against Ukraine will end, sooner or later, with the defeat of the enemy and the victory of Russia.