MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday vowed that Moscow would accomplish all goals it has set for itself in Ukraine, in its third year of conflict.
鈥淭he truth is on our side. All goals set will be achieved,鈥� Putin said in a video message released to mark the second anniversary of what Russia calls 鈥淩eunification Day,鈥� when Moscow annexed four Ukrainian regions.
After it sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, Russia annexed the regions of Lugansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. It does not fully control all territory in these regions.
In his address, Putin repeated his justification for sending troops into Ukraine as protecting Russian speakers against a 鈥渘eo-Nazi dictatorship鈥� that aimed to 鈥渃ut them off forever from Russia, their historic homeland.鈥�
He also slammed 鈥淲estern elites鈥� who 鈥渢urned Ukraine into their colony, a military base aimed at Russia鈥� and who fanned 鈥渉ate, radical nationalism... hostility to everything Russian.鈥�
鈥淭oday we are fighting for a secure, prosperous future for our children and grandchildren,鈥� he said.