Russian President, Vladimir Putin has vowed that his country will accomplish ‘all goals set’ in Ukraine.
Putin released a video message to mark the second anniversary of “Reunification Day”, two years since Russia formally claimed the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson as its own.
Russia held a referendum in the four regions on 30 September 2022 with Putin signing a document with the Russian-installed leaders of the occupied regions to unilaterally incorporate them into the Russian Federation, despite Moscow not fully controlling the territories.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion was launched in February 2022, Kyiv has stepped up its pursuit of Nato and EU membership
Putin said when he started the war that his aim was to demilitarise and “denazify” Ukraine.
“The truth is on our side. All goals set will be achieved,” Putin said in his video message on Monday.
He went on to criticise “western elites” who he claims “turned Ukraine into their colony, a military base aimed at Russia” and who fanned “hate, radical nationalism … hostility to everything Russian”.
“Today we are fighting for a secure, prosperous future for our children and grandchildren,” Putin said.
War: All goals set for Ukraine will be achieved – Putin vows