<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday met the country's Security Council, according to a Kremlin statement.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Opening the council's first meeting of the year, Putin said he would like to discuss the progress of the "special military operation" in Ukraine, which began last February.</div><div><br></div><div>He also informed the participants about the international contacts he had recently.</div><div><br></div><div>Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu, meanwhile, presented a report on his recent visit to command headquarters of a group of forces deployed in Ukraine. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>