Putin says 'no other way' to defend Russia other than by invading Ukraine

Russian President Putin has said there was 'no other way' to defend Russia other than by invading Ukraine. Russian troops have captured an airfield near Kyiv.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the military operation against Ukraine a 'necessary measure', saying 'high risk' situation prompted Russia to act. Putin said there was 'no other way' to defend Russia other than by invading Ukraine.

Addressing the media, Putin said, "What is happening now is a necessary measure, we were left with no other option."

During his meeting with business owners in Moscow, Putin commented on the 'special operation' in Donbass, noting that high risks were created, making it necessary for Russia to react.

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The 'risk' purportedly refers to the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) in its neighbourhood. Russia feels threatened by the rapid expansion of Nato since the late 1990s in the region. Nato and the former USSR were engaged in what was called the Cold War for about 45 years in the game of geostrategic one-upmanship.

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Meanwhile, Russian troops have captured an airfield near Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy said on Thursday. During a press conference, Zelenksyy urged world leaders to banish Russia from the SWIFT banking system, adding that a 'new iron curtain' is cutting Russia from the world.