Sound like Putin is scaling back the war after getting whooped:
Moscow has suggested it will scale back its invasion in Ukraine to focus on "liberating" territory claimed by Russian-backed separatists after meeting fierce resistance in Kyiv. On Friday, the Russian army said the first phase of its military campaign was over and troops will now focus on the country's eastern Donbas region. Sergei Rudskoi, chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of Russia's armed forces, said: "The main tasks of the first stage of the operation have been completed. The combat potential of Ukraine's armed forces has been significantly reduced, which allows [us] - I emphasise once again - to focus our main efforts on achieving the main goal - the liberation of Donbas." The announcement comes after significant Russian losses, including 20 battalions.
VLADIMIR PUTIN is on the brink of retreat after Russia announced a scaled-back invasion.
www.express.co.uk