Vladimir Putin said Moscow wants the United States to recognise Russia-occupied territories of Ukraine, stating that the Kremlin has no intention of slowing down its assault on the country.

“Ukrainian troops will withdraw from the territories they occupy, and then the fighting will cease," the Russian president said in Kyrgyzstan.

"If they don't withdraw, we'll achieve this through military force.”

Ukraine, together with the US and the European Union, has called for Moscow to first agree to a ceasefire and then engage in direct negotiations with Kyiv. But in his remarks on Thursday, Putin rejected this possibility as well.

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Putin said he would only discuss it with the US, saying that “signing documents with the Ukrainian leader

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