President Vladimir Putin is filled with confidence and said that the goals for what he called Russia’s “special military operation” will be met, as the United States’ predicted “a more protracted and bloody phase” of the conflict.

Russia is expected to expand its offensive in the eastern Donbas region, which has been partially held by self-proclaimed separatist republics, this week, according to Ukraine. Putin stated that Russia’s goals are to defend the people in the region.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy renewed his request for the European Union’s next set of sanctions against Russia to cover oil as well as all banks, and said EU member states should indicate when they expect to stop importing Russian energy.

“Some very powerful decisions must be taken and they must be taken now with the sixth package of sanctions,” Zelenskiy said in a speech to the Lithuanian parliament, referring to EU measures against Russia.

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