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Russia “had no different alternative” than to invade Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has mentioned.
In a uncommon public look since his forces invaded Ukraine in February, Russia’s president mentioned the “particular navy operation” was launched to guard civilians within the predominately Russian-speaking Donbas.
Thwarted in his obvious ambition to overrun the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Mr Putin is now build up forces for a brand new offensive within the jap Donbas area, and insisted that his marketing campaign would proceed till it achieved its targets.
He additionally introduced Russia would launch a lunar probe later this yr.
On a go to to the Vostochny Cosmodrome spaceport in Russia’s Far East on the 61st anniversary of Yuri Gagarin changing into the primary man in area, Mr Putin recalled Soviet successes and mentioned sanctions wouldn’t sluggish it down.
Inflation and rising meals and petrol costs within the West would additionally start to place strain on politicians there, he mentioned – including that “time” would put all the things in its correct place.
Certainly one of his few remaining allies, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, was with Mr Putin as he promised to work extra intently with Belarus on area infrastructure and expertise.
Mr Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrive on the spaceport
Learn extra: Nothing dominated out if Russia has used chemical weapons
The Russian chief’s public appearances have been restricted not too long ago.
Addressing the battle in public for the primary time since his forces retreated from northern Ukraine, he mentioned Russia needed to combat and defend the Russian audio system of jap Ukraine.
Requested by area company staff if the operation in Ukraine would obtain its targets, Mr Putin mentioned: “Completely. I haven’t got any doubt in any respect.”
“Its targets are completely clear and noble,” the president mentioned. “There isn’t any doubt that the targets will probably be achieved.”
Talking in regards to the West’s crippling sanctions imposed on Russia over the invasion, he added: “That Blitzkrieg on which our foes had been counting didn’t work.”
The penalties embrace restrictions on scientific funding and cooperation.
As soon as the offensive started on 24 February, Mr Putin largely confined himself to TV appearances, which he has used to reward the Russian navy and declare all the things was going to plan, regardless of ample proof on the contrary.
Mr Putin mentioned Russia will launch a lunar probe later this yr
Final Friday, he laid a wreath on the funeral of the ultranationalist Russian politician, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, reportedly accompanied by an aide carrying Russia’s nuclear weapons codes, or its so-called “nuclear soccer”.
Earlier than that, Mr Putin was additionally seen on 18 March to formally mark the eighth anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
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Key developments within the battle in Ukraine:
• Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pleaded for extra weapons from the West, significantly for the defence of Mariupol
• Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer met Mr Putin and warned that an offensive in Ukraine’s east was “being ready on a large scale”
• Allegations of rape, executions, and different battle crimes are nonetheless coming to mild in areas round Kyiv, the place the Russians pulled out in current weeks. Russia says these are Ukrainian and Western provocations
• Reuters knowledge exhibits that, whereas many Western nations have tightened sanctions on Russia, India – lured by large reductions – has bought extra Russian crude oil for the reason that starting of the invasion than it did for the entire of final yr.
Mr Putin with staff on the Vostochny Cosmodrome
Talking on the cosmodrome 3,450 miles (5,550km) east of Moscow, Mr Putin mentioned Russia would develop a brand new technology transport spaceship and applied sciences for nuclear power in area.
He additionally mentioned it could launch a probe referred to as Luna-25 to the moon within the third quarter of this yr and promised the Russian area company, Roskosmos, would prepare a Belarusian to hitch one in all its flights.
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