Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that his “special military operation” in Ukraine is taking longer than expected but said it has succeeded in seizing new territory and added that his country’s nuclear weapons are deterring escalation.
KYIV, Ukraine—Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged Wednesday that his “special military operation” in Ukraine is taking longer than expected but said it has succeeded in seizing new territory and added that his country’s nuclear weapons are deterring escalation of the conflict.
After failing to take Kyiv due to fierce Ukrainian resistance, Russia seized broad swaths of southern Ukraine at the start of the invasion and captured the key Sea of Azov port of Mariupol in May after a nearly three-month siege. In September, Putin illegally annexed four Ukrainian regions even though his forces didn’t completely control them: Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south, and Donetsk and Luhansk in the east. In 2014, he had illegally annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.
Putin rejected Western criticism that his previous nuclear weapons comments amounted to saber-rattling, claiming they were “not a factor provoking an escalation of conflicts, but a factor of deterrence.” Russian troops have withdrawn not only from the Kyiv area and around the country’s largest city, Kharkiv, but also from a large part of the Kherson region. Another problem for Putin are attacks this week against air force bases deep inside Russia. He put much of the country, especially border areas, on security alert recently, and fresh signs emerged Wednesday that Russian officials are strengthening border defensive positions.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Putin vows more strikes on Ukraine energy infrastructurePresident Vladimir Putin vowed Thursday to keep battering Ukraine&39;s energy grid despite an outcry against the systematic attacks that have plunged millions into the cold and dark as winter sets in.
Read more »
Putin warns of 'lengthy' Ukraine conflict, rising nuclear tensionsRussian President Vladimir Putin warned Wednesday that the war in Ukraine could go on for a long time, and said nuclear tensions had risen because of it.
Read more »
Putin acknowledges Russia's war in Ukraine could be a long oneRussia is forced into a series of significant retreats in the face of Ukrainian counter-offensives, waged with increasing stocks of Western weaponry, in the east and south since July.
Read more »
Putin vows more strikes on Ukraine energy infrastructurePresident Vladimir Putin vowed Thursday to keep battering Ukraine’s energy grid despite an outcry against the systematic attacks that have plunged millions into the cold and dark as winter sets in.
Read more »
Putin says nuclear tensions ‘rising’But Moscow won't deploy first Moscow—Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that nuclear tensions were rising, though he insisted “we
Read more »
Russian LGBTQ+ museum closes after new law bans ‘gay propaganda’BERLIN — The founder of Russia&039;s only LGBTQ+ museum said he was forced to close its doors on Wednesday, December 7, after President Vladimir Putin signed a law expanding restrictions
Read more »