MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized Western countries for trying to “break” Russia, saying in an interview broadcast on national television that his invasion of Ukraine was aimed at “uniting all Russian people”. ‘ Is. By downplaying Kyiv’s independence and justifying his 10-month invasion of Ukraine, Putin has used the concept of ‘historical Russia’ to argue that Ukrainians and Russians are one and the same. Putin said that Russia’s geopolitical opponents always aim to break Russia, especially ‘historic Russia’.
According to the news agency AFP, Vladimir Putin said that the policy of Western countries has always been to ‘divide and conquer’. Which he always wanted to accomplish and is still trying to do. He said that ‘but our target is different. It’s all about uniting the Russian people.’ Putin claimed that ‘his government is in the right direction… defending its national interests and the interests of its citizens, the interests of our own people.’ Putin once again reiterated that Moscow was ready for talks. Asked about the new Patriot missile system being delivered to Ukraine from the US, Putin once again claimed that ‘of course, we will destroy it, 100 percent!’
Significantly, in his first foreign trip outside Ukraine since the start of the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was assured of the most advanced air defense system from the Pentagon earlier this week. Along with this, US President Joe Biden reiterated his determination to continue supporting Ukraine. Western military and financial aid to Ukraine has played a major role in pushing back Russian troops. Including Kherson, the only regional capital occupied by Russia. However, despite Russia’s withdrawal from the city, it is under constant threat of Russian attacks. There were 41 attacks on the city of Kherson on Saturday. This included a deadly gunfight in a busy market in the city center. 10 people were killed and 55 were injured.
