Moscow - (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that his country's army will find a "counter" weapon to counter the Patriot air defense system, which the United States will give to Ukraine, which is under intense Russian bombing.

"As for the Patriot system, it is a very old system. It does not work like (our Russian system) S-300. Our opponents consider it a defensive weapon. Well, we will take that into account. There is always a counter (weapon), so what does it do?" Putin told a news conference. These will not work, as it only prolongs the conflict, and that is all there is to it.”

"Our goal is not to prolong the conflict indefinitely, but on the contrary, to end this war, and we hope for that," the Russian president added.

"All armed conflicts end with talks. The sooner Kiev understands this, the better."

Putin again defended the attack in Ukraine at the end of February, saying he had "no other choice" to "defend the people" in that country.

And he added, "The roots between the peoples of Russia and Ukraine are stronger than those who are trying to divide us."

He accused Russia's opponents, led by the United States, of having "always" tried to divide the "Russian world", which, according to the Kremlin, brings together all Russian speakers.

"Our potential enemies, our opponents, have always dreamed of this... They tried to divide us and rule us into separate blocs," Vladimir Putin added.