Russia launched a new offensive a week ago in a bid to exploit Ukraine’s issues before new support arrives, raising fears that the country’s second-largest city may even fall into Moscow’s hands. 

But President Vladimir Putin said Friday his goal was to carve out a buffer zone around Russia’s own under-fire border regions, rather than to seize Kharkiv itself.

“There are no such plans today,” he said after wrapping up his visit to China.

Zelenskyy has downplayed Russia’s gains, but he…