Russia 'confidently advancing' in Ukraine, Putin says

Russia is pressing ahead with its plan to capture four Ukrainian regions it announced the annexation of in 2022 and is making steady progress, President Vladimir Putin said Monday.

"The goal of liberating the Donbas, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions is being carried out in stages, in accordance with the plan of the special military operation ... The troops are confidently advancing," Putin said in a televised meeting with Russian army commanders.