Settled
Kremlin says Russia ready to fight for even 0.01% of Donetsk territory
In short
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is ready to fight for even one hundredth of a percent of the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic, saying: “This is the Russian Federation. There is nothing to discuss.” Peskov said a settlement by peaceful means remains preferable, as President Vladimir Putin has said, but that while that is impossible Russia will fight, Interfax reported. He made the remarks in an interview with Pavel Zarubin of the Vesti outlet.
Why it matters
The statement came from the president's press secretary and was carried within minutes by Russia's main state agencies, presenting the position as settled: Peskov said there was nothing to discuss. Vedomosti placed it alongside Putin's earlier claim that about 11% of the Donetsk territory remains under Ukrainian control, framing the fighting as a matter of the remaining share. The documents do not say whether the remarks change any negotiating position.
Key facts
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is ready to fight for even 0.01% of the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Peskov said: “Even half a percent, even one hundredth of a percent. This is the Russian Federation. There is nothing to discuss.” [ 3 , 4 ]
- Peskov made the remarks in an interview with Pavel Zarubin of the Vesti outlet, according to Interfax and Vedomosti. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Peskov said a settlement by peaceful means is preferable, as Putin has said, but that while that is impossible Russia will fight, and that those planning a devastating strike on Russia will pay the price Ukraine is paying now, Interfax reported. [ 3 ]
- Vedomosti reported that on Oct. 1 Putin said about 11% of the territory remains under Ukrainian control and that Russia would liberate the rest of Donbass much sooner than the 1.5–2 years assumed in Kyiv and Europe. [ 4 ]
- Vedomosti reported that on Sept. 1 Putin said the liberation of the DNR was proceeding on plan, and that 270 sq km and 15 settlements, including Svyatogorsk, came under Russian control in August alone. [ 4 ]
- Vedomosti reported that on July 4 Putin said Russian troops had liberated 133 settlements and taken more than 3,000 sq km under control since the start of the year. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Peskov said Russia is ready to fight for even one hundredth of a percent of the DNR territory. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Peskov said the territory is the Russian Federation and that there is nothing to discuss. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Peskov gave the remarks in an interview with Pavel Zarubin of the Vesti outlet. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Peskov's remarks reflect any change in Russia's position in settlement talks. None of the documents addresses negotiations or any change of position; Peskov is quoted only on fighting for the territory.
- The timing and release date of the Zarubin interview. Interfax and Vedomosti say only that Peskov spoke to Zarubin; no publication date or recording time is given.
- Putin's statements on 11% of the territory remaining under Ukrainian control and on the pace of liberation of Donbass. Carried only by Vedomosti in this set, citing the president; the other documents do not mention the figures.
- Peskov's remark that those planning a devastating strike on Russia will pay the price Ukraine is paying now. Appears only in Interfax's report of the interview.
What local media are saying
Official sourcesRIA Novosti and TASS led with Peskov's statement that Russia is ready to fight even for 0.01% of DNR territory, presenting the Kremlin position in short headline form without the surrounding quotes on peace talks.
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Business mediaInterfax and Vedomosti carried Peskov's full quotes from the Zarubin interview, including “This is the Russian Federation. There is nothing to discuss” and, in Interfax, his remarks that peace remains preferable but that Russia will fight and that those planning a strike on Russia will pay a price; Vedomosti added Putin's earlier statements on the share of territory still under Ukrainian control and on the pace of the advance.
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Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti reports Peskov's statement that Russia is ready to fight even for 0.01% of DNR territory. [ 1 ]
- TASS reports the same statement by Peskov. [ 2 ]
- Interfax publishes Peskov's quotes from the interview with Pavel Zarubin, including that the territory is the Russian Federation and that there is nothing to discuss, and his remarks on peace talks and fighting. [ 3 ]
- Vedomosti reports Peskov's remarks together with Putin's earlier statements on the territory remaining under Ukrainian control and on the pace of the advance in Donbass. [ 4 ]