Ukrainian statehood at stake, warns Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened the existence of Ukrainian statehood, saying "The current Ukrainian authorities must understand that if they continue to do what they are doing, they are putting in question the future of Ukrainian statehood."  Putin's veiled threat was part of a telephone call with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, to whom he said Ukraine would be better advised to adopt a 'constructive' approach to the third round of peace talks. Russia invaded Ukraine February 24 citing national security concerns over Kyiv's closeness to Western powers and move to join the NATO.

Putin, whose comments were published in a Kremlin readout of the call, said his 'special operation' in Ukraine - denounced today by Pope Francis as a 'war' that had led 'rivers of tears and blood' - was going according to plan and to schedule. "It was underlined that the suspension of the special operation is only possible if Kyiv stops military operations and carries out well-known Russian demands," the Kremlin said.

Russian forces have captured the port city of Kherson, the derelict Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and some smaller towns, and have surrounded Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Mariupol. An embattled Ukraine has made several pleas before the global community and to individual western nations looking for military and logistics support but nothing, so far, seems forthcoming, with the United States and others wary of a boots-on-the-ground situation.