Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia has no “bad intentions” toward Ukraine, hours after Russian forces seized Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.
Putin commented on the state-controlled Russia 24 news channel on Friday, urging neighboring countries to “think about how to normalize relations”.
“I want to emphasize once again. We have no bad intentions towards our neighbors and I would advise them not to escalate the situation or impose any restrictions,” he said, according to news agencies.
“All our actions, if they occur, always arise exclusively in response to hostile actions against Russia,” he added.
Putin also said: “We do not see any need to escalate the situation or worsen our relations.”
Putin’s comments came more than a week after he ordered an invasion that killed many people and sparked a growing refugee crisis.
The international community reacted with alarm when it was reported that the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant had been shelled by Russian forces, who seized the facility on Friday. The US Embassy in Ukraine tweeted that the attack on the nuclear power plant was a “war crime.”
As he spoke of marking a new ferry that will travel between his exclave in Kaliningrad and the rest of Russia, Putin also seems to have rejected the impact of sanctions on his country.
“We will only have to move some projects a little to the right to gain additional competencies,” he said. “Eventually, we will even take advantage of this, because we will acquire additional competencies.”
President Joe Biden has imposed new sanctions on eight members of Russia’s elite, while the United States has joined forces with European allies to oust some Russian banks from the international payment system SWIFT.
The foreign ministers met in Brussels on Friday to discuss what measures to take against Russia as it continues its aggression in Ukraine.
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she wanted the consent of the international community to limit Russian oil and gas exports.
Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Council said on Friday that it had voted to set up an independent commission to investigate the Russian invasion.
There does not appear to be a breakthrough in talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials that could pave the way for a ceasefire.
Moscow agreed on the need for “humanitarian corridors” to evacuate civilians and pass aid, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that “there is no talk” of Moscow and Kyiv signing any official documents.
Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence near Moscow, Russia, on March 3, 2022. On March 4, 2022, he said Russia had no “evil intentions” toward Ukraine, a week after he ordered its invasion. ANDREI GORSHKOV / Getty
Updated 3/3/22, 9 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.