During a recent economic forum in St. Petersburg, President Vladimir Putin stated that he does not exclude the possibility of Russian forces seizing the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy as part of a strategy to establish a buffer zone along the border. “We have no objective to take Sumy, but in principle I do not rule it out… They pose a constant threat to us, constantly shelling the border areas,” Putin remarked.
Located approximately 30 kilometers (18 miles) from Russia’s border, Sumy has faced significant attacks since the onset of Russia’s invasion in February 2022. In a series of assertive comments, Putin reinforced his stance on Ukrainian statehood, declaring, “I consider Russians and Ukrainians to be one people. In that sense, all of Ukraine is ours.” He further added, “There is a saying: wherever a Russian soldier sets foot, that is ours.”