Putin to French president: Russia to achieve goals in Ukraine whether diplomatically or by arms

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed confidence that Moscow will in any case achieve its goals of military operation in Ukraine, amid escalating tensions between the two sides following a fierce week-long conflict.

Putin was quoted by the Kremlin as making the remark in a Thursday phone conversation with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, during which the Russian leader reiterated Moscow’s goals of the demilitarization of the Former Soviet state and Kiev’s neutral status will be achieved whether diplomatically or by arms.

"Vladimir Putin outlined in detail the fundamental approaches and conditions in the context of negotiations with representatives of Kiev. It was confirmed that, first of all, we are talking about the demilitarization and neutral status of Ukraine, so that a threat to the Russian Federation will never emanate from its territory," the Kremlin said in a statement.

"It was emphasized that the tasks of the special military operation will be fulfilled in any event, and attempts to gain time by dragging out negotiations will only lead to additional demands on Kiev in our negotiating position," it added.

Underlining that Russia's "special operation" in Ukraine was going "according to plan," the statement said reports that Russian forces were bombarding Kiev were part of an "anti-Russia disinformation campaign," and that Russian forces were doing all they could to protect civilians.

Putin was also quoted by the Kremlin as saying, “If Ukraine neutralization and disarmament cannot be reached diplomatically, he would carry on military operations.”

On February 24, Russia started an all-out military operation in Ukraine after leaders of the self-proclaimed republic in the Donbass region called for assistance in the face of shelling by Kiev’s army. Moscow had just recognized the sovereignty of the breakaway republics.

Moscow says the goal of the invasion is to “demilitarize” and “de-Nazify” Ukraine.

We had no other choice, says Putin after launching Ukraine operation

Russia’s president says he had no other choice than launching a military operation in Ukraine.

‘Putin making major mistake in Ukraine’                           

Speaking in an interview with AFP, an unnamed French presidential adviser quoted Macron as telling Putin that he was making a "major mistake" in Ukraine, and that he was deluding himself about the government in Kiev as the war would cost Russia dearly over the long term.

"There was nothing in what President Putin said that could reassure us," the official said of the phone conversation with the French leader, adding that Putin had reiterated his "narrative" that he was seeking the "de-Nazification of Ukraine."

"'You are lying to yourself'," Macron was quoted as saying to Putin. “It will cost your country dearly, your country will end up isolated, weakened and under sanctions for a very long time.”

Russian, Belarusian athletes banned from Winter Paralympics

In a separate development on Thursday, Russian and Belarusian athletes were banned from the Beijing Winter Paralympics over the conflict in Ukraine, with organizers bowing to international pressure and threats of a boycott.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) had just a day earlier said athletes from the two countries would be allowed to compete as "neutrals" in the Games, which start on Friday.

The organizers reversed the decision less than 24 hours later, meaning 83 athletes from Russia and Belarus, which hosted troops for Moscow's offensive, will now be packing their bags and heading home.

"In order to preserve the integrity of these Games and the safety of all participants, we have decided to refuse the athlete entries from Russia and Belarus," the IPC said in a statement.

"To the para-athletes from the impacted countries, we are very sorry that you are affected by the decisions your governments took last week in breaching the Olympic Truce," IPC President Andrew Parsons told reporters. "You are victims of your governments' actions."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) earlier this week urged sporting federations across the world to exclude athletes from the two countries.

Multiple Paralympics committees around the world, teams and athletes had threatened not to compete if the Russian and Belarusian athletes were present, which was "jeopardizing the viability" of the Games, organizers said.

"Ensuring the safety and security of athletes is of paramount importance to us and the situation in the athlete villages is escalating and has now become untenable," the IPC said in a statement.

Russia says it controls Ukraine's Kherson on day 7 of military operation

Russia has announced that its forces have taken control of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, as Moscow

Zelensky vows to rebuild Ukraine, says Russia will pay

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday promised Ukrainians that damage to infrastructure inflicted by invading Russian forces would be repaired and that Moscow would foot the bill.

"We will restore every house, every street, every city and we say to Russia: learn the word of reparations and contributions. You will reimburse us for everything you did against our state, against every Ukrainian in full," Zelensky said in a video statement.

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