Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to Russia's parliament that the goals of the country's military operation in Ukraine will be achieved.
Putin said in an address on Wednesday to both houses of parliament, "I want to emphasise again that all the tasks of the special military operation we are conducting in the Donbas and Ukraine, launched on Feb. 24, will be unconditionally fulfilled." That, he said, will "guarantee the security of the residents" of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine that Russia recognised as independent shortly before launching its military action in Ukraine, as well as Crimea -- which Russia annexed in 2014 -- "and our entire country in the historical perspective."
Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry has announced sanctions against 287 British lawmakers in response to the UK Sanctioning 368 members of Russia's lower house of parliament.