Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said he does “not rule out” his forces taking control of Sumy, a key Ukrainian city near the Russian border, raising fresh concerns over a potential escalation in the nearly three-year-long conflict.
Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin said although capturing Sumy was not an immediate objective, the city remained a “constant threat” to Russia due to what he described as ongoing Ukrainian shelling of border areas.
“We have no objective to take Sumy, but in principle I do not rule it out,” Putin stated. “They pose a constant threat to us, constantly shelling the border areas.”
Sumy, located just 30 kilometres from the Russian border, has endured heavy shelling since the war began in February 2022. Russian forces have recently advanced up to 12 kilometres into the region, which lies outside the five Ukrainian regions Moscow claims to have annexed.
Putin’s comments come amid heightened military activity in northeastern Ukraine. Last year, Ukrainian forces launched a brief counteroffensive into Russia’s Kursk region from Sumy, capturing dozens of settlements before being repelled by Russian troops with the reported assistance of thousands of North Korean soldiers.
In response, Putin has ordered the establishment of a “buffer zone” within Ukrainian territory along the border, aiming to prevent future incursions. In recent weeks, Russian forces have seized a number of border villages in Sumy Oblast.
The Russian president also reignited his controversial rhetoric denying Ukraine’s sovereignty.
“I consider Russians and Ukrainians to be one people. In that sense, all of Ukraine is ours,” he declared. “There is a saying: wherever a Russian soldier sets foot, that is ours.”
His remarks cast further doubt on the feasibility of peace talks, as Moscow continues to reject calls for an unconditional ceasefire and demands that Ukraine cede even more territory as a precondition for negotiations.
The ongoing conflict, now stretching into its third year, remains locked in a devastating stalemate with no clear path to resolution in sight. Western leaders have warned that Putin’s latest statements could signal an intent to escalate offensives in northern Ukraine.
Written By Rodney Mbua
