Saint Petersburg: Russian President Vladimir Putin said he had no doubt that his country would emerge victorious in Ukraine despite the military setbacks in recent months. He said, "victory was guaranteed."
"The unity and solidarity of the Russian people, the courage and heroism of our fighters, and, of course, the work of the military-industrial sector will secure victory," he added. He was speaking to factory workers of Russian missile manufacturer Almaz-Antey in Saint Petersburg. He also praised the Russian defence industry. "We have something to rely upon and this cannot but inspire that victory will be ours."
Putin sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022 and on Wednesday defended his goals by saying Russia is "absolutely justified in saying that we are fighting neo-Nazism." With the "special operation" of Moscow approaching its anniversary and the string of defeats on the battlefield, there have been concerns in Russia over the Ukraine war.
Putin initially claimed that Moscow intends to "de-Nazify and demilitarise" Ukraine which is a pro-Western country. He also accused the Ukrainian government of carrying out genocide. Russian officials also claimed that the invasion was to protect the local ethnic Russian population of Donbas from "extreme nationalists, neo-Nazis, and fascists."