Ukraine breaks backbone of Russian troops, claims Zelensky

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country has “broken the backbone” of one of the world’s strongest armies - adding that the Russians were “not going to regain their feet in the next several years”.

But he cautioned against high expectations about what Ukraine could achieve on the battlefield.

Zelensky said returning to the status quo of 23 February - before Russia invaded - would represent "victory".

This would mean an end to the war's "first stage", he said - adding the conflict could only be fully resolved through diplomacy.

Zelensky insisted his country was adequately prepared for the invasion - and suggests the Russians made underestimations. "They did not know about a number of things," he claimed.

The president was speaking in a 75-minute pre-recorded interview alongside his wife, Olena Zelenska.

The broadcast was to mark three years since he took office.