By Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested he does not currently plan to seize Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, but does intend to create a buffer zone along the border.
Putin was responding to questions from Russian media on Friday in China’s northeastern city of Harbin.
Russian troops are intensifying their offensive in the eastern region of Kharkiv. Officials say they have crossed the border and taken control of multiple settlements.
But when asked whether his country aims to seize Kharkiv, Putin said, “there are no such plans today.”
Putin said he intends to create a “security zone, a buffer zone” in light of Ukraine’s shelling of Russian neighborhoods in border areas, resulting in civilian deaths.
The Russian leader said he discussed the situation in Ukraine with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their summit on Thursday.
He said Xi briefed him on his recent visit to Europe and set out his position on China’s peace initiatives.
Ukraine has been in a state of martial law since the beginning of Russia’s invasion, and a presidential election previously scheduled for March did not go ahead.
Putin told reporters that any future agreement between the two countries should be signed with the “legitimate authorities.”
