Putin accepts sending of volunteers to Ukraine to fight

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted the sending of volunteers to fight in Ukraine following the proposal of the country’s defence minister.

Sergey Shoigu claimed that 16,000 volunteers from the Middle East wanted to fight in Ukraine.

Putin said that if there were people who wanted ‘to help locals’ living in Donbas and at the same time without pay, Russia should have helped them get to the combat zone.

“If you see that there are people who want to come voluntarily, especially without pay, to help the people of Donbas, we need to take countermeasures and help them reach the combat zone,” Putin told a meeting of permanent members of the Security Council.

Putin said that “Western sponsors” do not hide the mobilization of mercenaries to take part in the conflict.

“They are doing it openly, in violation of any international norms,” ​​Putin said.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the move which is strongly condemned by the international community.