STORY: Speaking at an awards ceremony at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Russian Far East, Putin said Moscow had no other choice but to launch a military operation to protect Russia, and that a clash with Ukraine's anti-Russian forces had been inevitable.
Putin says the "special military operation" in Ukraine is necessary because the United States was using Ukraine to threaten Russia - including via the NATO military alliance - and that Moscow had to defend Russian-speaking people in Ukraine from persecution.
He added on Tuesday that he had no doubts Russia would achieve all of its objectives in Ukraine - a conflict he cast as both inevitable and essential to defend Russia in the long term.
"Its goals are absolutely clear and noble," Putin said. "It's clear that we didn't have a choice. It was the right decision."
So Putin is saving Russia from Ukraine....Great Rallying call for him back home too.....Can't beat it, He's saving Mother Russia from The US and Nazis, not to mention clàims Ukraine was Russia's all along......Whatever narrative that fits the day...(Didnt trump do that to, lol) Oh and Bush saved us from Saddam, same claim to do as he wanted ....
So Putin loves that kind of talk, he uses it to his advantage to do 'as he wants'......(I know a certain Personally on TV who has repeated it) Its a war of Choice, Conquering, Expansion, Return to glory,,,,,Dont let him fool ya..
Hey, before we all know it, if we keep the breathing room line of thinking,,,Putin will be justified eh,,,,,,,No, but thats what he's trying to do..