In a rare public appearance since his forces invaded Ukraine in February, the Russian president said a “special military operation” had been launched to protect civilians in the predominantly Russian-speaking Donbas. Frustrated in his apparent ambition to seize the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, Putin is now gathering strength for a new offensive in the eastern Donbass region and has insisted that his campaign will continue until it achieves its goals. He also announced that Russia would launch a lunar orbit later this year. During a visit to Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome spacecraft in the Far East on the 61st anniversary of Yuri Gagarin becoming the first man in space, Putin recalled Soviet successes and said sanctions would not slow him down. Inflation and rising food and gas prices in the West will also begin to put pressure on politicians there, he said – adding that “time” will put everything in the right place. One of his few remaining allies, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, was with Putin as he promised to work more closely with Belarus on space infrastructure and technology. Image: Mr Putin and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko arrive at the space port Read more: Nothing is ruled out if Russia has used chemical weapons The Russian leader’s public appearances have been limited recently. Addressing the war publicly for the first time since its forces withdrew from northern Ukraine, he said Russia needed to fight and defend the Russian-speaking people of eastern Ukraine. Asked by space agency staff whether the operation in Ukraine would achieve its goals, Putin said: “Absolutely. I have absolutely no doubt.” “Her goals are absolutely clear and noble,” he said. “There is no doubt that the goals will be achieved.” Speaking about the devastating Western sanctions imposed on Russia over the invasion, he added: “This Blitzkrieg on which our enemies relied did not work.” Sanctions include restrictions on scientific funding and collaboration. As soon as the attack began on February 24, Mr. Putin limited himself mainly to television appearances, which he used to praise the Russian military and claim that everything was planned, despite ample evidence to the contrary. Image: Mr Putin said Russia would launch a lunar mission later this year Last Friday, he laid a wreath at the funeral of Russian nationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky, reportedly accompanied by an aide who carried Russia’s nuclear weapons code or so-called “nuclear football.” Prior to that, Putin was also seen on March 18 to officially mark the eighth anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Follow the Daily Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker Key developments in the war in Ukraine: • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls for more weapons from the West, especially in defense of Mariupol • Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer meets with Putin and warns of an attack on eastern Ukraine Executions and other war crimes continue to come to light in areas around Kyiv, from which the Russians withdrew in recent weeks. Russia says challenges to Ukraine and the West • Reuters figures show that while many Western countries have tightened sanctions on Russia, India – lured by huge rebates – has bought more Russian crude oil since the invasion. than for the whole of last year. Picture: Mr. Putin with officials at the Vostochny spaceport Speaking at the spaceport 3,450 miles (5,550 km) east of Moscow, Mr Putin said Russia would develop a new generation spacecraft and space nuclear technology. He also said he would launch a probe called the Luna-25 to the Moon in the third quarter of this year, and promised that Russia’s Roskosmos space agency would train a Belarusian to take part in one of its flights.
