Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday ruled out launching “immediately” new “massive” bombings in Ukraine and expanding the mobilization of troops announced three weeks ago after the setbacks of his forces.
Putin assured, in a press conference in Kazakhstan, that the goal of the military offensive launched by Russia on February 24 is not “to destroy Ukraine”.
“In the immediate term, new massive attacks are not necessary. Currently there are other targets. For now. We’ll see later,” he declared at the conclusion of a regional summit.
“It’s not nice what’s happening now, but [si Rusia no hubiera iniciado su ofensiva en Ucrania], we would have been in the same situation a little later, only the conditions would have been worse for us. So we’re doing everything right,” he assured.
Russia launched massive bombing raids on Monday against several Ukrainian cities, damaging electrical infrastructure and residential areas, in retaliation for the explosion that two days damaged the Crimean bridge, which Moscow attributes to the Ukrainian secret services.
The Russian president also indicated that he does not foresee a new mobilization of reservists. He detailed that 222,000 troops, the 300,000 expected, have already been recruited, and that 16,000 are already in “units involved in the fighting.”
“There is nothing else planned. No proposal has been received from the Defense Ministry and I do not see the need to do so in the foreseeable future,” Putin said.
The Russian president added that he foresaw end advertised recruitment “in fifteen days”.
“The front line is 1,100 km long, so it is almost impossible to maintain it exclusively with troops made up of contracted military,” argued the Russian president.
After the announcement three weeks ago of the mobilization “partial” troops, tens of thousands of Russians fled the country.
Putin said he was “open” to negotiations with Ukraine and mediation by countries such as Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, and criticized the Ukrainian authorities for refusing to hold talks with him.