By Edward Easton

Copyright dailystar

President Vladimir Putin showed little intention of scaling back his invasion of Ukraine by claiming the Russian army is making the ‘responsible choice’. In a move that will likely further frustrate US President Donald Trump , the Russian dictator declared that what he was doing was ‘righteous’, in spite of the mass civillian casualties suffered as a result of the invasion. Speaking via a video address, Putin told Russians to feel proud of their country’s actions. “We did what we had to do, and we are proud of it,” he said. “We supported our brothers and sisters in their firm, responsible choice. Today, defending that choice, our soldiers and commanders are rising to the attack. The entire country, all of Russia , is waging a righteous battle and working,” he emphasised. Many will find it hard to believe Putin’s propaganda, with the Russians having spent far more money and time while suffering far more casualties during the military campaign than they intended when the first invaded in 2022. As many as 300,000 troops have lost their lives in the invasion, and the Russian economy has suffered massively following a full economic blockade by many of Ukraine’s allies. Meanwhile, Russian progress has been slower than many expected, with Ukrainian defences frustrating the offensive forces over the past couple of years. Despite these difficulties, the Russian president sounded optimistic, saying that his forces are “fighting together and winning”. The majority of the speech was made up of Putin laboriously attempting to defend his actions, and by proxy the tens of thousands of civilian deaths that they have caused. Putin referenced the fact that Russia is defending its people’s national interests and love for their homeland. He also mentioned the importance of historical memory and traditional values, language, culture, and faith, perhaps attempting to appeal to people in Ukraine who are ethnically Russian, the majority of which are vehemently against his actions. The speech comes after Putin’s headline grabbing meeting with US President trump in Alaska, which saw the pair seemingly get along, despite a number of historical disagreements. Putin’s critics were quick to denounce the meeting, and warn that Trump being too soft on the Russian President could allow him to defeat Ukraine. Following the meeting, Trump suggested that he would try and organise a three-way meet with both Putin and Ukranian President Vlodomir Zelensky, saying that they “have to settle it up”. For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .