Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that his country does not want to occupy Ukraine as Moscow’s invasion entered the fourth week with no end to conflict in sight.
“The appearance of Russian troops near Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine is not connected with the intention to occupy this country. We do not have such a goal, and I also directly stated this in my address on February 24,” Putin said in a televised government meeting on March 16. Instead, Russia was forced with “no other option for self-defense,” he said.
