Putin last September announced what he said was a 'partial mobilisation' of 300,000 reservists, triggering an exodus of at least as many Russian men who sought to dodge the draft by leaving for republics of the former Soviet Union.Īsked about another call-up by state TV war correspondent Alexander Sladkov, Putin said: 'There is no such need today.' MOBILISATION? Ukraine says it will never rest until every Russian soldier is ejected from its land. Russian troops were beaten back from Kyiv and eventually withdrew to a swathe of land in Ukraine's east and south which Putin has declared is now part of Russia. His comments on Kyiv - during several hours of answering questions - were shown on Russian state television. 'Only I can answer this myself,' Putin said.

'Should we return there or not? Why am I asking such a rhetorical question?' Putin told 18 Russian war correspondents and bloggers in the Kremlin. Many in the United States, Putin said, did not want World War Three, though Washington gave the impression it was unafraid of escalation.īut his most puzzling remark was about Kyiv, which Russian forces tried - and failed - to capture just hours after Putin ordered troops into Ukraine on February 24 last year. Russia, he said, had no need for nationwide martial law and would keep responding to breaches of its red lines. Using the word 'war' several times, Putin offered a barrage of warnings to the West, suggesting Russia may have to impose a 'sanitary zone' in Ukraine to prevent it attacking Russia and saying Moscow was considering ditching the Black Sea grain deal. More than 15 months since Putin sent troops into Ukraine, Russian and Ukrainian forces are still battling with artillery, tanks and drones along a 1,000-km (600-mile) front line, though well away from the capital Kyiv. MOSCOW, June 13 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that any further mobilisation would depend on what Russia wanted to achieve in the war in Ukraine, adding that he faced a question only he could answer - should Russia try to take Kyiv again? Putin: Russia may create 'sanitary zone' in Ukraine.Says Ukraine's counteroffensive has failed so far.Putin: No need for new mobilisation, for now.

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