Putin at a meeting with leaders of the State Duma factions: "Today we hear that they want to defeat us on the battlefield. What can I say here? Let them try! We have already heard a lot that the West wants to fight us to the last Ukrainian. It is a tragedy for the Ukrainian people, but it seems that this is where it is heading. But everyone should know that we, by and large, have not started anything seriously yet. At the same time, we are not rejecting peace negotiations, but those who are rejecting them should know that the further they go, the harder it will be for them to negotiate with us."