Lavrov also said Russia’s targets would expand even further if the West handed over long-range weapons to Kyiv, the agency said. When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, President Vladimir Putin denied any intention to occupy Ukrainian territory, saying his aim was to demilitarize and “de-Nazify” the country — a statement dismissed by Kyiv and the West as a pretext for a imperial expansion war style. After being defeated in an initial attempt to capture the capital Kyiv, the Russian Defense Ministry said on March 25 that the first phase of the special operation had been completed and would now focus on “achieving the main goal, the liberation of Donbas.” Nearly four months later, it has captured Luhansk, one of the two regions that make up Donbas, but is far from capturing the other, Donetsk. However, its forces have already seized territory far beyond the Donbas, especially in the southern regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, and continue to launch rocket attacks on cities across Ukraine. WATCHES | Putin meets the leaders of Iran and Turkey in Tehran:
Putin meets leaders of Iran and Turkey to show Russia has allies
Russian President Vladimir Putin flew to Tehran this week to meet with the leaders of Iran and Turkey. Some political analysts suggest the visit was to show the world that Russia is not isolated.
