Putin says "reconciliation with Ukrainian part" of people "inevitable"

Reconciliation with the "Ukrainian part" of the russian people is an inevitable result of events, it's a matter of time. The russian president vladimir putin said this in an interview with the russia 1 propaganda channel.

The russian propagandist Pavel Zarubin asked whether "reconciliation with the Ukrainian part of the russian people in the future" is possible.

"It seems to me that it's inevitable. Despite all the tragedy we're going through now. It's a matter of time," putin replied cynically.

He also believes it was "right" for russia to seize Ukrainian Crimea in 2014.

"Look, we were simply forced to make a decision in 2014 to support the Crimeans and Sevastopolians. Because any other course of action would have meant handing them over to the slaughter... And I think we did the right thing by doing what we did then," he said.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, American intelligence has concluded that the russian president vladimir putin could change his approach in the war against Ukraine, focusing on more short-term tasks instead of completely taking over the country.

The kremlin said it was waiting for Ukraine's response regarding direct talks with putin.