Secretary of State Antony Blinken told "Good Morning America" anchor George Stephanopoulos in a new interview that Russian President Vladimir Putin's declaration of martial law in illegally annexed parts of Ukraine "speaks to his desperation" as Ukrainian forces continue to make progress in rebuffing the invasion. "Now, in saying that he's declaring martial law in places that he claims to have people who somehow want to be part of Russia, that speaks to his desperation," the secretary said. MORE: Putin adds martial law in Ukraine regions, limits in RussiaBlinken's remarks come after Putin issued an order this week declaring martial law in four Ukrainian provinces that he seized in September, which was widely denounced by the international community. PHOTO: George Stephanopoulos interviewing Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, Oct. 19, 2022, in Philadelphia. Putin's martial law declaration in Ukraine 'speaks to his desperation,' Blinken tells ABC originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Source: ABC News February 28, 2024 14:45 UTC