MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Moscow will press on with its military action in Ukraine until reaching its goals and mocked Western attempts to drive Russia into a corner with sanctions. Putin said at an annual economic forum in the far-eastern port city of Vladivostok that the main goal of sending troops into Ukraine was protecting civilians in the east of that country after eight years of fighting. “It wasn’t us who started the military action. We are trying t...

MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Moscow will press on with its military action in Ukraine until reaching its goals and mocked Western attempts to drive Russia into a corner with sanctions. Putin said at an annual economic forum in the far-eastern port city of Vladivostok that the main goal of sending troops into Ukraine was protecting civilians in the east of that country after eight years of fighting. “It wasn’t us who started the military action. We are trying t...