Putin says ‘no other way’ to defend Russia other than invading Ukraine

MOSCOW, Russia — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Moscow had no other choice but to invade Ukraine to ensure Russia's security, speaking hours after his army crossed his ex-Soviet neighbor's borders.

"What was happening left us with no choice," the Russian leader said during a televised meeting with business representatives, adding that "we had no other way of proceeding." — Agence France-Presse