The head of State, who spoke to VGTRK journalist Pavel Zarubin, assured that Moscow has sufficient strength to complete the special military operation with the desired result.

“That result is the elimination of the causes that provoked this crisis, creation of conditions for long-term sustainable peace and ensuring the security of the Russian state,” he said.

Putin also stressed that it is necessary to ensure the interests of the Russian people who live in those territories and consider Russian as their mother tongue and Russia their homeland,” Putin explained.

Russia has been conducting a special military operation in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, Putin noted, to protect the population from “genocide by the Kiev government,” and to tackle the national security risks posed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s eastward advance.

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