Putin: Obliterating Ukraine is not our goal

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia did not set the task to destroy Ukraine.

Speaking at a news conference in Astana, Kazakhstan, Vladimir Putin said:

"What is happening today is unpleasant, to put it mildly. However, we would have had to experience all this later, but in worse conditions for us, that's all… We are acting correctly, and in a timely manner. We did not set the task to obliterate Ukraine,” he stressed.

The president also said that he does not yet see the need for new massive strikes against Ukraine. The Russian army is facing other tasks now, although he did not specify which ones exactly. Seven out of 29 Ukrainian facilities have not been destroyed, as the Russian Defence Ministry planned, he said.

Partial call-up almost completed

Partial mobilization is almost over, it will be completed in about two weeks, President Putin also said.

The head of state explained that out of the planned 300,000 people, 222,000 had been mobilized.

"An additional call-up is not planned,” Putin assured.

The President of Russia stressed that all reservists must undergo mandatory training before being sent to the special operation zone.

More from Putin's news conference following the summit in Astana on October 14: 

• A direct military confrontation between Russia and NATO is a very dangerous step that will lead to a global catastrophe.
• About the Russians who left the country after the start of mobilization: in each case, one needs to give a legal, rather than an emotional assessment.
• According to the FSB, the explosives intended for the explosion on the Crimean Bridge were sent by sea.
• Russia is open to negotiations with Kyiv, but the Ukrainian authorities have made a decision that prohibits them (Putin probably meant Zelensky's decree, which excluded Ukraine's negotiations with Vladimir Putin while he remains President of the Russian Federation).