Moscow, Dec. 17 -- President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday cautioned that Russia could move to broaden its territorial control in Ukraine if peace talks fail to meet Moscow's conditions, indicating that the Kremlin remains ready to rely on military force should diplomatic efforts stall.

Addressing senior military commanders at an annual meeting, Putin said Russia favours resolving the conflict through negotiations and by working to "eliminate the root causes of the conflict", while making it clear that the absence of meaningful dialogue would harden Moscow's response.

"If the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means," Putin ...