Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that he does not plan more "massive" strikes against Ukraine "for now" and that the Kremlin's aim was not to "destroy" the pro-Western country, reports The Hindu.
"There is no need now for massive strikes. There are other tasks. For now. And then it will be clear," Mr. Putin told reporters following a summit of ex-Soviet nations in Kazakhstan. "We do not set ourselves the task of destroying Ukraine."
He spoke days after Russia unleashed a wave of missile strikes across Ukraine, including on the capital Kyiv.
"What is happening today is not pleasant. But all the same we would have been in the same situation, only the conditions would have been worse for us," Putin said.
"So we're doing everything right."
He did however acknowledge that Moscow's ex-Soviet allies are "worried" about the conflict.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
