He stated this during a meeting with veterans of the Great Patriotic War and residents of besieged Leningrad.
His words are quoted by RIA Novosti.
“Everything we are doing today, including in a special military operation, is an attempt to stop this war,” the Russian president said.
He explained that this and the protection of the people living in these territories is the essence of the Russian special operation.
Putin also said that Russia did everything possible to peacefully resolve the situation around the Donbass, but it was "led by the nose."