With the election behind him, Putin says Russia aims to set up a buffer zone inside Ukraine

By The Associated Press

Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country won’t relent in its invasion of Ukraine and has announced plans for a buffer zone to protect against long-range Ukrainian strikes and cross-border raids. He spoke after the release of election returns that showed him securing a fifth six-year term in an election with no real opposition. Russian forces have made progress as Kyiv’s troops struggle with a severe shortage of artillery shells and exhausted front-line units after more than two years of war. Advances have been slow and costly, and Ukraine has increasingly used long-range firepower to hit oil refineries and depots deep inside Russia.