Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke publicly on Tuesday for the first time in nearly a month about his country's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, and said that any peace talks with Ukraine have reached a "dead end," according to multiple reports.
"We have again returned to a dead-end situation for us," Putin said, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Putin went on to make it clear that Russia's "military operation will continue until it concludes" and they achieve their initial goals.
"Inconsistency about essential matters has been creating well-known difficulties in achieving final agreements on the negotiating track which would be acceptable to us," Putin said. "Unless that happens, the military operation will continue until it concludes and the objectives set at the beginning of this operation are achieved."
He expanded on what the Russian objective at this time actually is, saying they will be focusing on the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, not the entire country itself.
"We will act rhythmically and calmly, according to the plan that was initially proposed by the general staff," Putin said, according to The New York Times. "Our goal is to help the people who live in the Donbas, who feel their unbreakable bond with Russia."
Putin then claimed that Russia has not used any chemical weapons in Bucha, Ukraine, despite Western claims of war crimes being committed.
"There were provocations in Syria, when the use of chemical weapons by the Assad government was planted. Then it turned out that it was fake, the same fake is in Bucha," Putin said, according to CNN.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted a video out on Wednesday morning, asking for help to supply additional weapons to Ukraine in order to continue the fight against Russia.
"Without additional weaponry, this war will become an endless bloodbath, spreading misery, suffering, and destruction. Mariupol, Bucha, Kramatorsk – the list will be continued. Nobody will stop Russia except Ukraine with Heavy Weapons. #ArmUkraineNow," Zelensky said in the tweet.
Zelensky later tweeted that he has been in discussion with President Joe Biden for additional military support and increasing the sanctions against Putin and Russia.
"Continued constant dialogue with @POTUS. Assessed Russian war crimes. Discussed additional package of defensive and possible macro-financial aid. Agreed to enhance sanctions," Zelensky tweeted.
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