Putin Tells Russia His War Objectives Are Unchanged

Russian President Vladimir Putin has told Russians that peace with Ukraine will only take place “when Russia achieves its objectives”.

He is holding his first major news conference since he launched his first full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Putin has combined his annual “direct line” phone-in with Russians with an audience of journalists.

The annual event did not take place last year.

Much of the first part of this marathon event is focused on what Mr Putin calls the “special military operation in Ukraine”.

His initial thoughts address the importance of Russian sovereignty.

Putin says Russia’s economy is strong for a time of war and the topic of conversation quickly moves to Ukraine.

He said Russia’s objectives do not change, listing “denazification, demilitarization and its neutral status” as the themes highlighted from the start of the war.

He says about 486,000 people have so far signed up voluntarily as contract soldiers, as well as 300,000 people called up last year.

A classified US intelligence report estimated this week that 315,000 soldiers had been either killed or wounded since the war began – which it said was almost 90% of Russia’s military personnel at the start of the invasion.