Kremlin says Russia will keep fighting at full force until Ukraine peace deal
In short
The Kremlin said on 4 October local time that Russian forces will keep fighting at full strength until a peace agreement on Ukraine is reached, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying Moscow wants peace but will fight if peace is impossible. Mr Peskov also said anyone planning a fatal blow against Russia would pay a price like Ukraine's, and warned that all available weapons systems would be used if Kaliningrad were threatened.
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Korean outlets reported on 4 October local time that the Kremlin said Russian forces will keep fighting at full strength until a peace agreement on Ukraine is reached. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, made the remarks in an interview with Russian state broadcaster Vesti, according to Yonhap, Asia Economy and Dong-A Ilbo. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Mr Peskov said, “As President Putin has said, we want peace and we prefer to achieve it through peaceful means.” He added, “But as long as that is impossible, we will fight, and we will fight with all our might.” [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
He also said that those who intend to deal a fatal blow to Russia will pay a price like Ukraine's; Newsis put that line in its headline, and Yonhap, Asia Economy and Dong-A Ilbo also carried it. Mr Peskov said Russia is “falling into a vicious cycle,” but that with no possibility of discussion and negotiation this was the only way to achieve its national interests, Yonhap and Asia Economy reported. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
On Kaliningrad, the Russian exclave that Yonhap said has recently faced blockade pressure from NATO member states in Europe, Mr Peskov said the territory is Russian and that it had been made clear Russia would mobilise all available weapons systems if any threat were made, as hardliners in Poland and other countries have said. [ 1 , 2 ]
Dong-A Ilbo additionally reported that Mr Peskov called the occupied eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk “Russian territory” and said Russia would fight for even 0.01% of it. “Even if it is 0.5% or 0.01%, this is the territory of the Russian Federation,” he was quoted as saying, adding that there was no need to discuss it further. That comment appeared in the Dong-A Ilbo summary alone among these documents. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The statement describes the Kremlin's stated position on continuing the war rather than any new decision, and it keeps escalation options open, including a warning tied to pressure on Kaliningrad. Korean outlets carried it as a straight news item sourced to Russian state media, so its significance lies in the war's trajectory and in signals to NATO members rather than in consequences for Korea itself.
Key facts
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian forces will keep fighting at full strength until a peace agreement with Ukraine is reached, in an interview with Russian state broadcaster Vesti on 4 October local time. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Mr Peskov said Russia wants peace and prefers to reach it by peaceful means, but that as long as that is impossible Russia will fight with all its might. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- He said those who intend to deal a fatal blow to Russia will pay a price like Ukraine's. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Mr Peskov said Russia is falling into a vicious cycle, but that with no possibility of discussion and negotiation this was the only way to achieve national interests. [ 1 , 2 ]
- He warned that Kaliningrad is Russian territory and that Russia would mobilise all available weapons systems if any threat were made to it. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reported Mr Peskov also called occupied Donetsk in eastern Ukraine Russian territory and said Russia would fight for even 0.01% of it. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Peskov said Russia wants peace and prefers peaceful means, but will fight at full force if peace is impossible. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Peskov said those planning a fatal blow to Russia will pay a price like Ukraine's. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The remarks were made in an interview with Russian state broadcaster Vesti on 4 October local time. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Peskov warned that Kaliningrad is Russian territory and that all available weapons systems would be used if it were threatened. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- Peskov's statement that occupied Donetsk is "Russian territory" and that Russia would fight for even 0.01% of it. Appears only in Dong-A Ilbo's summary; no other document in this set carries it.
- Where Peskov gave the interview and the location of the remarks. The documents describe the interview with Vesti but do not state a venue or city.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap publishes Peskov's remarks from the Vesti interview, including the pledge to fight at full strength and the Kaliningrad warning. [ 1 ]
- Asia Economy carries the same remarks. [ 2 ]
- Newsis publishes a headline reporting the Kremlin's threat that those who strike Russia would pay like Ukraine. [ 3 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports the remarks, adding Peskov's comment that occupied Donetsk is Russian territory to be defended down to 0.01%. [ 4 ]