Putin’s Turning Point: “There is no need for mass attacks anymore, the aim is not to destroy Ukraine”

“No more need for massive attacks in Ukraine” because “our objective is not to destroy Ukraine”, said the Russian president Vladimir Putin at a press conference in Astana at the conclusion of the CICA summit in Kazakhstan. Words that seem almost a turning point after the bellicose proclamations used so far.

Responding to a question at a press conference in the Kazakh capital about the possibility that Ukraine could exist as a state, Putin said that ”Russia’s objective is, of course, not to destroy Ukraine’. For the time being, therefore, it is not necessary to launch new “massive” attacks against Ukraine, Putin explained, effectively outlining a defensive strategy aimed at keeping the territories occupied in the Donbass, at least for the next few months. Asked whether he expects more mass bombings in Ukrainian cities, the Russian president said: “Now there is no need for more mass attacks, at least not now, as there are now other tasks to be done.”

However, Putin’s words are not one of remorse as the war in Ukraine continues. Answering another question whether he had any regrets about Russia’s actions in Ukraine, in fact, Putin assured that he did not, adding that “Russia is acting correctly and on time.” “What is happening today is regrettable, but we would have the same thing a little later, only in worse conditions for us: so we are acting in a correct and timely manner”, underlined the Kremlin leader.

Putin also said that he believes the “partial mobilization” of army reservists, commissioned last month, will be completed in two weeks, strengthening the Russian fighting force. In front of reporters, he said that a total of 222,000 reservists had been summoned, against the 300,000 initially planned, but specifying that “the quality of mobilization must be improved” and “all those mobilized must be trained”.

As for possible glimmers of peace, the Russian president has dampened enthusiasm for a possible meeting with his American counterpart in Bali to discuss the crisis in Ukraine. “I see no need for negotiations with Biden in Indonesia “on the sidelines of the G20,” he said, adding: “This is not the time to talk about it, we have yet to see how Moscow will participate in the G20.”

On the contrary, Putin sees Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as “an important mediator”after “we talked to him yesterday about how to take wheat to the poorest countries”, and guarantees that “Russia remains open to negotiations with Ukraine”

What could worsen the situation is the deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine that “would cause a catastrophe”. “Sending NATO troops to Ukraine for a direct confrontation with the Russian army would be very dangerous and could cause a global catastrophe” indeed warned the Russian president, concluding: “I hope those who are saying this are smart enough not to take such measures.”