Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday warned that Russia would take more territory in Ukraine by military means if Kyiv and European leaders fail to engage in negotiations over U.S.-proposed peace plans. Speaking at an annual Defense Ministry meeting, Putin characterized European politicians as “young pigs,” accusing them of deliberately exaggerating threats from Russia.

“If the opposing side and their foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive discussions, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means,” Putin said, referring to areas Moscow claims in Ukraine.

Russia currently controls roughly 19% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea—annexed in 2014—most of the Donbas region, large parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and fragments of four other regions. Moscow considers these areas part of Russia, a claim almost universally rejected internationally.

Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said Russia aims to accelerate its offensive in 2026. A slide from his presentation indicated that Russia spent 5.1% of its GDP on the war in 2025, underscoring Moscow’s continued military investment in Ukraine.

Putin accused European leaders of joining former U.S. President Joe Biden in trying to undermine Russia. He said their warnings about a potential Russian attack on NATO countries were “lies, nonsense, pure nonsense,” and part of an effort to whip up “hysteria” across Europe.

European leaders maintain that Russia should not be rewarded for its invasion and reaffirmed their support for Kyiv. Critics of Moscow say it has shown little genuine interest in peace, and Belousov claimed European powers are actively seeking to sabotage negotiations, creating conditions for continued military operations in 2026.