Steve Rosenberg

Vladimir Putin has been talking about Russia having to keep what it calls new regions, land occupied by Russian troops. Also, he has talked about Western sanctions would have to be scrapped against Russia, and Ukraine would not be able to join NATO, which would add up to pretty much a capitulation by Kiev.

Vladimir Putin has been talking about Russia having to keep what it calls new regions, land occupied by Russian troops. Also, he has talked about Western sanctions would have to be scrapped against Russia, and Ukraine would not be able to join NATO, which would add up to pretty much a capitulation by Kiev.

Yes, he was asked about this. This is Igor Kirillov, who was assassinated this week. He spoke of him in very positive terms and said that this wasn't the first attack of its kind carried out by Ukraine. The main message, I think, from this marathon four and a half hour press conference slash phone-in was... was that, OK, there are some problems in the country, but I'm the man to solve them.

Yes, he was asked about this. This is Igor Kirillov, who was assassinated this week. He spoke of him in very positive terms and said that this wasn't the first attack of its kind carried out by Ukraine. The main message, I think, from this marathon four and a half hour press conference slash phone-in was... was that, OK, there are some problems in the country, but I'm the man to solve them.

As far as Syria goes, we heard his first comments on the dramatic events in Syria and the fall of Bashar al-Assad, which is a big blow to Vladimir Putin. Assad was Putin's key ally in the Middle East. But no, he turned that upside down and said this was not a defeat for Russia. So, as I say, the main message, I think, for the Russian people was things are sort of going OK.

As far as Syria goes, we heard his first comments on the dramatic events in Syria and the fall of Bashar al-Assad, which is a big blow to Vladimir Putin. Assad was Putin's key ally in the Middle East. But no, he turned that upside down and said this was not a defeat for Russia. So, as I say, the main message, I think, for the Russian people was things are sort of going OK.

My overriding impression was that Vladimir Putin is someone who refuses to admit any mistakes. You know, the last three years, just look at what's happened. What was supposed to have been a very fast operation in Ukraine that would last days or weeks maximum went completely wrong for Moscow. We had then Putin being forced to declare partial mobilization.

My overriding impression was that Vladimir Putin is someone who refuses to admit any mistakes. You know, the last three years, just look at what's happened. What was supposed to have been a very fast operation in Ukraine that would last days or weeks maximum went completely wrong for Moscow. We had then Putin being forced to declare partial mobilization.

We saw a mutiny by Russian mercenaries who started marching on Moscow. And yet Vladimir Putin was able to get through all of that and now has the initiative on the battlefield in eastern Ukraine. And that, I think, adds to his sense of confidence, almost his feeling of invincibility.

We saw a mutiny by Russian mercenaries who started marching on Moscow. And yet Vladimir Putin was able to get through all of that and now has the initiative on the battlefield in eastern Ukraine. And that, I think, adds to his sense of confidence, almost his feeling of invincibility.

And I suppose if you've been in power as long as he has, for 25 years, as president mainly, sometimes as prime minister, then I suppose you do start to feel that you can do anything.

And I suppose if you've been in power as long as he has, for 25 years, as president mainly, sometimes as prime minister, then I suppose you do start to feel that you can do anything.

It was the day Russia's capital was reminded of Russia's war in Ukraine. The investigations committee confirmed they'd been a high-profile assassination outside an apartment building. A bomb hidden on a scooter had exploded, killing Lieutenant General Igor Kirilov, head of Russia's nuclear, biological and chemical protection troops, and his assistant Ilya Polykarpov.

It was the day Russia's capital was reminded of Russia's war in Ukraine. The investigations committee confirmed they'd been a high-profile assassination outside an apartment building. A bomb hidden on a scooter had exploded, killing Lieutenant General Igor Kirilov, head of Russia's nuclear, biological and chemical protection troops, and his assistant Ilya Polykarpov.

Only yesterday, Ukraine had reportedly charged the general in absentia for allegedly using chemical weapons on the battlefield. Russian state TV blamed the blast on Ukraine. With the attack, it said, President Zelensky had signed his own death sentence. The former Kremlin leader, Dmitry Medvedev, called for the killers to be tracked down in Russia.

Only yesterday, Ukraine had reportedly charged the general in absentia for allegedly using chemical weapons on the battlefield. Russian state TV blamed the blast on Ukraine. With the attack, it said, President Zelensky had signed his own death sentence. The former Kremlin leader, Dmitry Medvedev, called for the killers to be tracked down in Russia.

We must do everything, he said, to destroy the patrons who are in Kiev. Near the crime scene, local residents spoke of their shock. Liza told me, when this kind of thing happens, not just in your hometown or in your own neighbourhood, but in the building opposite, that's scary. Even after nearly three years of war, for many Muscovites, Russia's war in Ukraine is very distant.

We must do everything, he said, to destroy the patrons who are in Kiev. Near the crime scene, local residents spoke of their shock. Liza told me, when this kind of thing happens, not just in your hometown or in your own neighbourhood, but in the building opposite, that's scary. Even after nearly three years of war, for many Muscovites, Russia's war in Ukraine is very distant.

It's something they see only on TV or on their phones. But the killing of a Russian general here, that is a wake-up call that this war is very real and very close to home.

It's something they see only on TV or on their phones. But the killing of a Russian general here, that is a wake-up call that this war is very real and very close to home.