Putin says Western sanctions are like a declaration of war

President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Western sanctions on Russia were similar to a declaration of war and warned that any attempt to impose a no-fly zone on Ukraine would have catastrophic consequences for the world.

Putin reiterated that its goals were to defend the Russian-speaking communities through the “demilitarization and denazification” from Ukraineand for it to become neutral and no longer threaten Russia.

Ukraine and the Western countries have said that they are an unfounded pretext for the invasion that launched Russia on February 24. The United States and the European Union have imposed a wide range of sanctions aimed at isolating Moscow.

“These sanctions that are being imposed are similar to a declaration of war, but thank God it has not come to that,” said Putinspeaking to a group of flight attendants at a flight training center Aeroflot near Moscow.

He added that any attempt by another power to impose a no-fly zone in Ukraine would be seen by Russia as a step towards military conflict. Such a step, she said, would have catastrophic consequences for Europe and the world.

The NATO military alliance has rejected Kiev’s request to impose a no-fly zone, arguing that it would escalate the war beyond Ukraine to a much broader conflict, which could pit the United States against Russia.

“LET’S PLAN”

Putin said there are no conscripts involved in the military operation in Ukrainewhich, according to him, is being carried out only by professional soldiers.

“There is not a single recruit and we do not plan there to be,” said Putin. “Our army will fulfill all tasks. I don’t doubt it at all. Everything is going according to plan.”

That statement contradicts assessments by US and British officials. British military intelligence said on Thursday that the advance of Russia on the Ukrainian capital had made little progress and met stiff resistance.

Putin dismissed concerns that some kind of martial law or emergency situation could be declared in Russia. He said such a measure was imposed only when there was a significant internal or external threat.

“We do not plan to introduce any kind of special regime on Russian territory; Currently there is no need.” said Putin.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the West was behaving like a bandit by severing economic ties over the conflict in Ukrainebut what Russia it was too big to be isolated, since the world was much bigger than the United States and Europe.

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