New Delhi: Russia does not wish to destroy Ukraine as a state, President Vladimir Putin told reporters on Friday.
“Our goal is not to destroy all of Ukraine. As for them, at some point, they just went and cut the water supply to Crimea, where 2.4 million people live. Our troops had to enter the area and reopen the water supply to Crimea. Had they refrained from taking that action, there would have been no retaliatory actions,” the head of state said, when asked if Ukraine would continue to exist as a state.
According to the Russian president, the bombing of the Crimean Bridge once again highlights the importance of ensuring land communication with Crimea.
Putin added the call-up of reservists would be finished in two weeks, promising an end to the divisive mobilization that has seen hundreds of thousands of men summoned to fight in Ukraine and huge numbers fleeing the country.
Putin said 222,000 out of an expected 300,000 reservists had already been mobilized. “This work is coming to an end,” he said.
Since the mobilization order was given, Russian forces have continued to lose ground in eastern Ukraine and also lost a substantial area in the south.
After attending the summit of regional leaders from Asia and Eastern Europe, Putin said he did not regret sending troops into Ukraine nearly eight months ago.
(Vinayak)