Vladimir Putin said Russia would do everything in its power to end the war in Ukraine “as soon as possible”, despite the direction of the conflict that has swung against his military in recent days.
Russian troops have been routed in parts of the northeast with thousands of square kilometers of territory liberated by defense forces near Kharkiv.
The Ukrainian flag again flies over dozens of other coloniesincluding the key city of Izyum where a a mass burial site has been discoveredas a senior police investigator expressed shock at the discovery.
Sky News reporter’s eyewitness report at the scene – latest updates on the war in Ukraine
Ukrainian forces, buoyed by the surge near Kharkiv and progress in the south near Kherson, hope to push Russian troops out of all Ukrainian territory.
However, this is probably not what President Putin means by a quick conclusion to the conflict.
Appearing at a televised summit in the Uzbek town of Samarkand, he spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“I know today’s era is not an era of war, and I told you about it on the phone,” Modi told the Russian president.
When the Indian leader made the remark, Mr Putin pursed his lips, glared at him, then looked down before touching the hair on the back of his head.
He told Mr Modi he understood he had concerns about Ukraine, but that Moscow was doing everything possible to end the conflict.
“I know your position on the conflict in Ukraine, the concerns you constantly express,” he said. “We will do everything to stop this as soon as possible.”
Zelenskyy: The world must see what the Russian army left in Izyum
In the recently recaptured city of Izyum, there has been an outcry over the discovery of a mass burial site.
Speaking on Telegram on Friday afternoon, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: “Today the world has to see what the Russian army left behind.
“More than four hundred graves lie in the forest near Izyum. We still don’t know exactly how many bodies are there…
“Russia has already become the biggest source of terrorism in the world, and no other terrorist power leaves behind so many deaths.
“This must be recognized legally. The world must act. Russia must be recognized as a state sponsor of terrorism.”
