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Sunday, May 17, 2026

Putin claims Russia's plans "are not to occupy Ukraine" - CNN

In an early morning address on national television, Russian President Vladimir Putin said: “Our plans are not to occupy Ukraine, we do not plan to impose ourselves on anyone."

Early Thursday morning, Putin said his troops will take military action in Donbas, the area of eastern Ukraine that contains the separatist-held regions of Donetsk and Luhansk which he recognized as independent on Monday.

The CNN team in Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine located in the country's northeast, is hearing a "steady stream of loud explosions."

CNN reporters on the ground also reported hearing explosions near the capital Kyiv.

Putin tells Ukrainian forces to lay down arms and go home

In an address early Thursday on national television, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced military action in Donbas, urging Ukrainian forces to lay down their arms and go home, according to state-run news agencies RIA-Novosti and TASS.

Putin warned that all responsibility for any potential bloodshed will be on the conscience of the...



Read Full Story: https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-23-22/h_cddb786d9...