ISLAMABAD: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday called for a “transitional administration” to be established in Ukraine and pledged that Russian forces would “finish off” Ukrainian troops. His hardline remarks come as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes for a ceasefire.
Since Trump’s return to office, a thaw in U.S.-Russia relations and his threats to cut aid to Kyiv have emboldened Putin, now more than three years into an offensive that has claimed tens of thousands of lives on both sides.
Putin’s renewed call to remove Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky underscores his long-standing ambition to install a pro-Moscow government in Kyiv.
Speaking at an Arctic forum early Friday, Putin suggested that Russia could work with the United States, Europe, and its allies—under the auspices of the United Nations—to set up an interim administration in Ukraine.
“For what purpose? To organize a democratic presidential election that would bring to power a competent government with the people’s confidence, and then begin peace negotiations and sign legitimate agreements,” Putin explained.
When Moscow launched its invasion in 2022, it aimed to seize Kyiv within days but was thwarted by Ukraine’s significantly smaller military.
Putin also made a direct appeal to Ukraine’s generals, urging them to overthrow Zelensky. He has repeatedly accused the Ukrainian leader—without evidence—of being a neo-Nazi and a drug addict.
Moscow has questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, arguing that his term ended in May 2024. However, under Ukrainian law, elections are suspended during wartime, and even Zelensky’s domestic opponents agree that no vote should take place until the war ends.
Putin, who has been in power for 25 years and has repeatedly won elections with little to no opposition, has accused Ukraine of not being a democracy.
‘Finish Them Off’
Later on Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov defended Putin’s remarks, claiming Ukraine’s leadership had “lost total control” over its army, which he accused of attacking Russian energy sites “on a daily basis.”
Peskov reiterated that Russia was upholding a commitment not to target Ukrainian energy facilities—despite Kyiv’s multiple claims, including on Friday, that Russian forces have been striking them.
“If the Kyiv regime does not observe the moratorium, Russia reserves the right to disregard it as well,” Peskov warned.
Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of violating its self-imposed restrictions on striking energy infrastructure. On Friday, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 163 drones overnight, setting fire to critical infrastructure and agricultural sites in the country’s south.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Russia’s defense ministry claimed fresh territorial gains, announcing the capture of a village in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region and the recapture of a border settlement in Russia’s Kursk region.
Putin urged his troops to press their advantage, citing their superior numbers and firepower.
“I said not long ago: ‘We will finish them off.’ There are reasons to believe that we will do just that,” Putin declared.
He added, “We are gradually, not as fast as some might want, but steadily and confidently, moving toward achieving all the goals we set at the beginning of the special operation.”
‘Path to Peace’ or Prolonged War?
Putin has rejected a joint U.S.-Ukrainian proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire, with Ukraine accusing him of deliberately stalling talks with Washington while continuing military operations.
“Russia is trying to derail the path to peace by choosing to continue the war,” said Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to the Ukrainian presidency, in response to the latest attacks.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has shifted its focus to Europe, accusing its leaders of obstructing potential progress between Moscow and Washington.
On Friday, Peskov condemned the European Union’s refusal to consider lifting sanctions on a Russian agricultural bank, a condition Moscow had set for restoring the Black Sea grain deal.
“If European countries refuse to take this path, it means they are unwilling to pursue peace in step with the efforts being made in Moscow and Washington,” Peskov argued.
