NEW YORK, April 16. /TASS/. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his allies in the European Union that, in Washington’s opinion, the conflict in Ukraine may continue until late 2022, CNN said citing two European officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

According to the channel, this means a significant review of US estimates, who earlier expected the Russian military operation to be over quickly.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address on February 24 that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation in Ukraine in order to protect people "who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories, noting that the operation was aimed at the denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine.