Putin asserts sanctions on Russia is similar to waging war

MOSCOW: A declaration of war is similar to sanctions, Vladimir Putin, President of Russia warned. Neither a state of emergency nor the recruitment of existing conscripts for the "operation" in Ukraine are planned, according to him.

Putin stated that a different course of action could have been more appropriate for them. They could have supported the Donbas republics at the contact line and reinforced them with the Russian army, he added that with the unwavering backing from the west, Russia would have had radicals coming constantly with support from the west on the other side of the conflict.

According to Putin, the Ukrainian air defence systems have been almost completely destroyed.