Vladimir Putin is keeping all possibilities on the table regarding the war in Ukraine. In statements made on Wednesday by the Russian president in a meeting with members of the Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, he emphasised that “the West considers Russia a second-class country, but the answer we give is the following: Russia will continue the persistent struggle for its national interests. First, we will seek to achieve this through peaceful means, but if that does not work, then we will use whatever means are available,” Putin said. He went on to blame the West and human rights organisations for the political influence they wield both inside and outside of Russia.

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“Regarding the shelling of the settlements in Donbas… Indeed, the strikes are being made by the Ukrainians directly in populated areas, no one can be unaware of this… The whole world acts as if nothing is happening and that is terrible. The West cannot be unaware of this,” he said initially.

And he continued: “We are now convinced that Western human rights organisations were created not as a means of fighting for human rights, but mainly as a means of influencing the internal politics of Russia and, above all, other countries of the former Soviet Union.”

Elsewhere in his speech, Putin pledged to make up for losses and shortages of military equipment on the Ukrainian front.

Regarding the new mobilization scenarios, Putin said that “discussions about some additional mobilization measures simply do not make sense and there is no need for the state and the Ministry of Defense today.”