President Vladimir Putin presented flowers to a female war correspondent and medical workers from Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine on Wednesday in a Kremlin ceremony to mark International Women's Day, thanking them for their achievements at what he called a challenging time for the country.
"Nothing is impossible for you," Putin said in a speech to a group of women who were then invited to step up and accept bouquets from him as trumpet fanfares sounded.
"You can be tender and feminine and at the same time very strong. You always strive for fairness, you do everything to ensure that life in the family, society and the country unfailingly improves," the president said.
