MOSCOW: Events on the battlefield in Ukraine are a matter of "life and death" for Russia that could determine its fate, President Vladimir Putin said in remarks aired on Sunday.
The Kremlin has repeatedly framed the almost two-year conflict as a battle for Russia's survival in a bid to rally patriotic sentiment among its population, many apathetic toward the offensive.
"I think it is still important for us ourselves, and even more so for our listeners and viewers abroad, to understand our way of thinking," Putin said in an interview with state TV.
"Everything that is happening on the Ukraine front: For them it is an improvement of their tactical position, but for us it is our fate, it is a matter of life and death," he said.
Putin was responding to a question about a two-hour long interview he gave to US talk show host Tucker Carlson, which the Kremlin used to promote its narratives on the conflict.
In that interview, Putin talked at length about Russian history and continuously questioned Ukraine's statehood, drawing ire in both Kyiv and the West.
"For the Western listener, the viewer, it was not easy. Even more so for Americans," Putin said when asked about his long, historical musings in the Carlson interview.
"The history of the United States is 300-odd years, and I started in 862. So I think it was not easy for American audiences to understand," he said.
On Saturday, Russia said it had taken "full control" of the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, hours after Kyiv said it had pulled out of the former stronghold to save soldiers' lives.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had informed President Vladimir Putin of the advance, said a defence ministry statement.
Putin "congratulated our military and fighters on such an important victory", Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state media.
Facing ammunition shortages and outnumbered on the battlefield, Ukrainian forces announced they had withdrawn in the early hours of Saturday.
It followed months of pressure after Russian forces stepped up efforts to capture the eastern industrial hub in October.
The capture of Avdiivka represents Russia's biggest victory in the war since May.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told a security conference in Munich: "The ability to save our people is the most important task for us.
"In order to avoid being surrounded, it was decided to withdraw to other lines."
"This does not mean that people retreated some kilometres and Russia captured something," he added. — AFP
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
