Russian President Vladimir Putin defiantly said on Wednesday that his nation hasn't lost anything in Ukraine and has benefited from stronger national sovereignty as a result of the war.
The Russian leader's words stand in stark contrast to Ukrainian government claims on Tuesday that at least 50,000 Russian soldiers have died since Putin's Feb. 24 order to invade Ukraine.“I’m sure that we’ve lost nothing and won’t lose anything. The main thing we’ll gain is strengthening our sovereignty," Putin said at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, on Wednesday.
Putin also remarked that Russia"will always protect our national interests while pursuing an independent policy course," adding that it seeks cooperation from partners who appreciate the same qualities. Last month, Putin vowed to forge stronger bilateral ties with North Korea after exchanging friendly letters with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.
Speaking at the event, which promotes investment in Russia's far east, Putin also rejected claims that Russia has violated international law, calling the Ukrainian government an "illegitimate regime," and saying it was founded after a 2014"coup." He added that the armed invasion was undertaken"consciously," a remark that Ukraine's minister of foreign affairs latched onto.
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