War: ‘It’s going as planned’ – President Putin warns of ‘catastrophic consequences’ for Europe, the world

Russian President, Vladimir Putin has said that
nations imposing sanctions on his country were
declaring war.
The President warned that any attempt to impose a
no-fly zone in Ukraine would lead to catastrophic
consequences for the world.
Putin maintained that by invading Ukraine, his aims
were simply to defend Russian-speaking
communities through the “demilitarisation and de-
nazification” of the country.
He said he must ensure that Russia’s former Soviet
neighbour became neutral and no longer threatened
his country.
“These sanctions that are being imposed are akin
to a declaration of war but thank God it has not
come to that,” Putin said, speaking to a group of
flight attendants at an Aeroflot training centre near
Moscow.
The Russian leader warned that any attempt by
“another power to impose a no-fly zone in Ukraine
would be considered by Russia to be a step into the
military conflict.”
He said such a step “would have catastrophic
consequences for Europe and the world.”
Speaking further, President Putin maintained that
the invasion of Ukraine was going as planned.
He denied reports that Russian conscripts had been
used in Ukraine, saying that none had been
involved, insisting that his military is capable of
carrying out his targets in Ukraine.
“There is not one conscript and we don’t plan for
there to be.
“Our army will fulfil all the tasks. I don’t doubt that
at all. Everything is going to plan,” Putin said.