Vladimir Putin says Russia is not occupying territory in Ukraine but taking back what is its own

In a meeting with Aleksandr Lukashenko, Putin said that Russia is not seizing foreign territory, but taking back what it considers its own, referring to the town of Ceasov Yerevan in Donetsk. Lukashenko insisted that Ukraine must negotiate to avoid further conflict, while Putin reiterated that Russians and Ukrainians are one people. Against the backdrop, the US has called for peace talks and President Trump has ordered the positioning of nuclear submarines in response to Russian threats.