Putin Threatens Force as Ukraine Peace Talks Falter; Zelenskyy Firm on Red Lines

• Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Ukraine that Moscow will use force to achieve its military objectives if peace talks do not advance.
• Putin's remarks followed a visit to a Russian armed forces command post, where he met Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov and was briefed on frontline progress.
• Russian officials reported the capture of Gulyaipole in Zaporozhye and Dimitrov in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), believing Ukraine is "no hurry" for a settlement.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that occupied land and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) are "red lines" for Kyiv.
• Zelenskyy emphasized that territory, ZNPP, and national sovereignty are sensitive matters, with security guarantees being Ukraine’s top priority.

Why It Matters: Putin threatens military escalation if Ukraine peace talks fail, while Zelenskyy maintains firm "red lines."