Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday threatened to escalate the war in Ukraine, even as he stated that the “main goal” of his invasion was limited to gaining control of the eastern Donbas region. east of the country.
During a press conference in Uzbekistan at the conclusion of a regional summit, Putin claimed that Ukraine was trying to carry out “terrorist acts” inside Russia and “damage civilian infrastructure.” ours”.
“We actually reacted quite limitedly, but that’s the moment,” Putin said. “The Russian armed forces have dealt some sensitive blows to it. Well, what about that? We’ll assume these are warnings. If the situation continues to develop in this way, the answer will be more serious.”
Putin seems to be referring to Russian cruise missile attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure in recent days. causing power outages in many parts of the country and damaged a dam in the southern city of Kryvyi Rih.
His comments come after two days of meetings with Asian leaders show how his war has strained Russia’s relations with some of its most important international partners. On Thursday, Putin acknowledged during a meeting with Xi Jinping, China’s leader, that China had “questions and concerns” about the war. And on Friday, Putin told Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India that he was aware of the “concerns that you have frequently expressed” about the war.
“We will do our best to prevent this as soon as possible,” Putin told Modi in televised comments at the beginning of their meeting.
During Friday’s press conference, Putin made his first broad comment after Ukraine attacked Russian forces in the northeastern part of the country last weekend – a defeat on the battlefield that sparked outrage. unusual criticism of the Kremlin inside Russia. Supporters of the war said on state television that Putin did not wage the war with sufficient intensity.
Mr. Putin downplayed the Ukrainian counter-attack, saying with a smug grin, “Let’s see how it plays out and how it ends.”
Asked by a Russian journalist if Russia’s war plans needed to be adjusted, Putin insisted no. But he also identified his main goal as controlling only the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, where Russia has recognized the independence of two Russian-backed “separatist republics”. The above comment seems to signal that the Kremlin considers other territories currently occupied by Russian forces, such as the Kherson region in southern Ukraine, of secondary importance.
And Mr. Putin on Friday made no mention of the broader goals of “demilitarization” and “demilitarization” of Ukraine that he declared at the start of the war in February – terms agreed upon. Many see Putin as declaring his intention to gain political control over all of Ukraine.
“The main goal is to liberate the entire territory of the Donbas,” Putin said. “This work continues despite the counter-attacks of the Ukrainian army. The General Staff considers some things to be important, some minor things, but the main task remains unchanged and is underway.
Russia now accounts for most, but not all, of the Donbas. Several important towns and cities in the Donetsk region of the region, such as Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, are still controlled by Ukraine.
During his press conference, Putin did not set any conditions for peace talks with Ukraine – a departure from the rhetoric of senior Russian officials, who have demanded the complete surrender of President Volodymyr Zelensky. When asked under what conditions it is possible to “dialogue” with Ukraine, Putin replied: “The first condition is that they agree. They do not want. “
An adviser to Mr Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak, said on Friday that Russian forces had brought “pervasive terror, violence, torture and mass murder” to the territory they occupied in Ukraine.
“We have no right to leave people alone with the Devil,” said Mr. Podolyak above Twitter. “’Conflict resolution’ is extremely simple. Immediately withdraw troops from the entire territory of Ukraine”.
