RUSSIA CANNOT BE DEFEATED

MOSCOW, OCTOBER 22 /SRNA-RIA Novosti/ – Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia could not be defeated, that it did not want a war with Europe, and that Ukraine's leadership was treating its citizens as expendable material in the conflict.

Putin said it had become clear to everyone that Russia could not be defeated on the battlefield.

He said Russia did not want a war with Europe and was not preparing for one, adding that Western talk of an alleged "threat from Moscow" and preparations for war amounted to "political schizophrenia."

Putin also said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was wrong to speak of territorial losses, arguing that people living in what he described as Russia's historic territories had voted to join Russia.

"People living in those territories voted for independence and then for reunification with Russia, so it is inappropriate for Zelensky to talk about any territorial losses," Putin said after Zelensky stated that he was open to a peace agreement with Russia, even if it meant Ukraine losing around 25 per cent of its territory.

The Russian leader said Ukraine's leadership was treating its citizens as expendable material in the conflict with Russia.

According to Putin, Ukrainians were being forced to the front lines, leading to a lack of motivation. He claimed that, according to official figures, Ukraine had around half a million deserters, but that the actual number was much higher.

"The current Ukrainian leadership has decided that the whole world should pay for them, fight on their behalf and supply them with weapons, which is inconceivable. Russia does not want to fight Ukraine, but if the Ukrainian leadership wants to, that is their problem," the Russian leader concluded.