Putin says Russia is winning on battlefield, will not negotiate with 'terrorists'

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Tuesday that Russia is winning the war in Ukraine and would not negotiate with the Ukrainian leadership, whom he characterized as "terrorists." Speaking after a summit in Kyrgyzstan, Putin acknowledged damage from Ukrainian drone attacks within Russia but asserted that Russian forces were advancing, having captured 270 square km of the Donetsk region in August and encircled significant Ukrainian troop contingents. He dismissed rumors of a new military mobilization as "utter nonsense." Putin also indicated that Russia was preparing "massive strikes against energy infrastructure in Ukraine." While maintaining a hawkish stance, he also noted Moscow's openness to talks aimed at ending the war, stating, "If someone makes, or can make, a tangible contribution to this process, we are all in favor." He also accused Germany of planting evidence to frame Russia for a drone attack at Leipzig airport.