(Photo : NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Vladimir Putin meets with the media at his campaign headquarters in Moscow on March 18, 2024.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared victory Monday in an election with no real opposition, boasting of growing victories on the battlefield in Ukraine during his victory speech. 

"The initiative belongs entirely to the Russian armed forces. In some areas, our guys are just mowing them - the enemy - down," he said to reporters at a news conference at his campaign's Moscow headquarters.

Putin said he planned to create a buffer zone in Ukraine to protect Russia from cross-border attacks.

"We will be forced at some point, when we consider it necessary, to create a certain 'sanitary zone' on the territories," Putin said.

He also warned the West against putting troops in Ukraine.

When asked if Russia and NATO could enter direct armed conflict, Putin said, "Everything is possible in today's world."

He added that a conflict between Russia and NATO would put the world "a step away" from World War III.

Monday marks the 10th anniversary of Russia's seizure of Crimea from Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed the election and voting in regions of his country that Russia controls, saying "Everything Russia does on the occupied territory of Ukraine is a crime."

Putin has led Russia as president or prime minister since December 1999.