Putin insists Ukraine invasion proceeds as planned

Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted that the invasion of Ukraine, which, according to the Kremlin, is a “special military operation”, is being developed as agreed and “successfully”.

At a conference on economic measures to support the regions, Putin said that the intervention “is being developed successfully, in strict accordance with the approved plans”, Russian agencies reported, adding that it does not have “intention to occupy Ukraine.

Putin stated that “It was only a matter of time” that Ukraine launched a “mass assault” to Donbas and then to Crimea, and that the Russian Armed Forces have avoided it with the operation that began on February 24 in Ukraine.

“Ukraine, instigated by the US and other Western countries, was heading for a violent scenario, a bloodbath and ethnic cleansing in Donbas”, insisted the Russian president, according to local agencies.

Regarding the economic situation in Russia, Putin assured this Wednesday that the Russian economy will adapt to the new scenario of international sanctions, although he admitted that there will be more inflation and unemployment, for which he has decided to increase the minimum wage and the salaries of the Public employees.

“The increase in prices is seriously affecting the income of the population. Therefore, in the near future we will take the decision to increase all social payments, including pensions” and also the minimum wage, indicated the head of the Russian state.

The new realities caused by international sanctions, Putin acknowledged, will lead to structural changes in the Russian economy, but it has enough income and strength to sustain itself, he said.

In addition, he assured that international sanctions have been a severe blow to the international economy and have had a negative impact on Western nations and the United States, and described them as “aggression”.

“Decisions aimed at worsening the lives of millions of people have all the signs of aggression by economic and political means”, asserted the president of Russia.