Western sanctions have failed, says Putin as Russian troops begin battle for Ukraine’s Donbas | Top Points

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the West’s economic sanctions on Moscow over invading Ukraine have failed. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated that Russia was trying to “literally destroy” the entire eastern area of Donbas. Here are the top points.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the sanctions imposed by the West on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine have failed.

Putin said on Monday that the West “expected to quickly upset the financial-economic situation, provoke panic in the markets, the collapse of the banking system and shortages in stores.” He added that “the strategy of the economic blitz has failed.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Monday that Russia's anticipated new offensive in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region had begun.

Russia has been trying to take control of the Donbas region. If this is successful, Moscow will be able to link Russian fighters in Luhansk and Donetsk. This would also allow them to create a land corridor to the annexed Crimean Peninsula.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of trying to"destroy" the entire eastern area of Donbas.

"We can now confirm that Russian troops have begun the battle for the Donbas, which they have been preparing for a long time," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“This morning, along almost the entire front line of the (eastern) Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv regions, the occupiers attempted to break through our defences,” he said.