Ukrainian counteroffensive does not aim to attack Russian territory – Zelenskyy

Pressed by reporters on the issue, Mr Zelenskyy said: “We don’t attack Russian territory, we liberate our own legitimate territory.”

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, said Ukraine had neither the time nor the strength to attack Russia (Matthias Schrader/AP)

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his country is preparing a counteroffensive designed to liberate areas occupied by Russia, not to attack Russian territory.

Speaking during a news conference with German chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Mr Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s goal was to free the territories within its internationally recognised borders.