A military operation in Ukraine is going as planned and no such move is needed, Putin spokesman says.
Moscow has no plans to impose martial law in the country amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, according to a Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, dismissing claims made by a top US spy.
Peskov told reporters that there are no such plans, despite a statement by the Director of US National Intelligence Avril Haines. The Russian president Vladimir Putin has stated that the special military operation is unfolding as planned, and he has urged reporters and the public to listen to him. The top US spy Haines alleged that Moscow may impose martial law in the country to ramp up its efforts in Ukraine. Haines also claimed that President Vladimir Putin's aims are greater than what Russia is capable of militarily and the situation is likely to be more unpredictable and potentially escalatory in the next few months. According to Haines' statement on Tuesday, the current trend indicates the likelihood that President Putin will impose more drastic measures, including martial law.
In late February, Russia attacked the neighboring state after Ukraine failed to implement the terms of the Minsk agreements, first signed in 2014, and Moscow s eventual recognition of the Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. The German and French protocols were designed to give the breakaway regions special status within the Ukrainian state.
The Kremlin has demanded that Ukraine officially declare itself a neutral country that will never join the US-led NATO military bloc. Kiev insists that the Russian offensive was unprovoked and has denied it plans to retake the two republics by force.