Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a meeting of the Prosecutor General’s Office Board in Moscow, Russia on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. During the meeting, Putin addressed Russian businessmen and warned them not to expect a quick resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
According to reports from Russian business journalists Farida Rustamova and Maxim Tovkaylo, as well as the US-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Putin told the businessmen that negotiations to end the conflict would be “slow and difficult”. This warning came just before his scheduled phone call with US President Donald Trump.
The reports from Rustamova, Tovkaylo, and ISW were then repeated in the US-based think tank’s daily update on Thursday. The president’s message to the businessmen was clear: prepare for a protracted war in Ukraine.
In a private meeting at the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Congress, Putin also publicly stated that Moscow should not expect the West to lift sanctions quickly. This is part of a larger narrative being pushed by the Kremlin, which includes messaging about the difficulty of negotiations, the illegitimacy of Ukrainian officials, and divisions between the US and Europe, according to researchers at ISW.
All of this suggests that Russia is expecting a prolonged conflict in Ukraine and is only willing to negotiate on its own terms. As ISW summarized, “Putin and other Kremlin officials will likely continue messaging to domestic audiences that the war in Ukraine remains a protracted Russian effort and that Russia will not make peace in Ukraine quickly.”
In a further sign of discord, Putin was reportedly late to his scheduled call with Trump and even dismissed concerns about his tardiness while live on stage just minutes beforehand.
These reported remarks from Putin are in stark contrast to the optimism coming from the White House. After speaking with Putin, Trump claimed that ceasefire efforts were “very much on track”, while his press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “We have never been this close to peace.”
Even Trump’s special US envoy Steve Witkoff told Bloomberg on Wednesday that the president believes a “full ceasefire” will take place in “a couple of weeks”.
However, just hours after Putin’s call with Trump and the agreed upon partial ceasefire on Ukraine’s “energy and infrastructure”, Russia launched a series of drone strikes against its European neighbor. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by saying that Putin’s pledge to reduce strikes was “very much at odds with reality”.
He further stated, “Even last night, after Putin’s conversation with Trump, when Putin said that he was allegedly giving orders to stop strikes on Ukrainian energy, there were 150 drones launched overnight, including on energy facilities.”
Despite the preliminary ceasefire talks, Moscow also accused Ukraine of attempting to attack. This further highlights the tense and fragile nature of the situation in Ukraine.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has been a source of international concern for years now. With Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and continued aggression towards its neighbor, the international community has been calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
However, Putin’s recent remarks and actions suggest that Russia is not willing to back down or make any concessions. This is a cause for concern, as it could potentially lead to a prolonged and devastating conflict in the region.
It is important for all parties involved to continue working towards a peaceful resolution and to not let tensions escalate any further. The people of Ukraine deserve to live in a country free from conflict and the international community must continue to support their efforts for peace.
In conclusion, it is clear that the situation in Ukraine remains tense and difficult. Putin’s warning to Russian businessmen and his actions following the call with Trump only add to the uncertainty and concern. It is crucial for all parties involved to come together and find a peaceful resolution to this ongoing conflict. The people of Ukraine deserve nothing less.
