Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia would fight to defend its interests using all available means.
Speaking at an annual televised session of his Human Rights Council, President Putin said that Western rights organisations viewed Russia as “a second-class country that has no right to exist at all”.
“This is what we are dealing with,” Putin said. “There can be only one answer from our side - a consistent struggle for our national interests. We will do just that. And let no one count on anything else.”
He continued: “Yes, we will do this by various ways and means. First of all, of course, we will focus on peaceful means, but if nothing else remains, we will defend ourselves with all the means at our disposal.”
He added that Russia's “special military operation” could be a “long process”.
Putin was responding to comments by a member of the rights council who said Ukrainian forces were attacking residential areas of the Russian-controlled Donetsk region.
