(CNN) A war with Ukraine would be "apocalyptic" but will probably never happen, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"I believe such (an) apocalyptic scenario is unlikely, and hope that it will never get to that point," he told Russian media Monday.

Putin said he's confident the crisis will stabilize if the Minsk Agreement is implemented.

A gas pipe burns after being struck by shelling in Myronivskyi.

A gas pipe burns after being struck by shelling in Myronivskyi.

Ukrainian servicemen ride on top of an armored personnel carrier on the way from Artemivsk to Debaltseve.

Ukrainian servicemen ride on top of an armored personnel carrier on the way from Artemivsk to Debaltseve.

Pro-Russian rebels warm themselves by a fire during a break between fighting.

Pro-Russian rebels warm themselves by a fire during a break between fighting.

Pro-Russian rebels load the ammunition onto a truck. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is tasked with monitoring the ceasefire and a supposed withdrawal of heavy weapons, has not been able to gain access to Debaltseve because of the continued conflict.

A pro-Russian rebel carries ammunition to be loaded onto a truck near Debaltseve on February 17.

A pro-Russian rebel carries ammunition to be loaded onto a truck near Debaltseve on February 17.

A Ukrainian armored vehicle passes on a road stretching away from the town of Artemivsk towards Debaltseve on February 17.

A Ukrainian armored vehicle passes on a road stretching away from the town of Artemivsk towards Debaltseve on February 17.

A Ukrainian soldier rests on his vehicle near the road between the towns of Debaltseve and Artemivsk on February 16.

A Ukrainian soldier rests on his vehicle near the road between the towns of Debaltseve and Artemivsk on February 16.

Ukrainian servicemen play football on a road in Svitlodarsk approaching Debaltseve on February 15. The ceasefire went into effect after midnight, followed by brief accusations of violence.

Pro-Russian rebels stationed in the eastern Ukrainian city of Gorlivka, Donetsk region, launch missiles from a Grad launch vehicle toward a position of the Ukrainian forces in Debaltseve on February 13. Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko said the ceasefire that was due to go into effect is in "big danger."

Ukrainian children look through a window of a bus near Artemivsk, eastern Ukraine, on February 5, as people are evacuated.

Ukrainian children look through a window of a bus near Artemivsk, eastern Ukraine, on February 5, as people are evacuated.

An elderly Ukrainian man stands inside a bus before being evacuated from the region.

An elderly Ukrainian man stands inside a bus before being evacuated from the region.

An elderly Ukrainian man is helped by a Ukrainian Army soldier and a citizen during a evacuation of civilians in Debaltseve.

An elderly Ukrainian man is helped by a Ukrainian Army soldier and a citizen during a evacuation of civilians in Debaltseve.

A Ukrainian woman cries in an administration building before taking a bus to flee her town in Debaltseve. Continued conflict there has undermined a truce that apparently went into effect Sunday, raising concerns it is all but dead.

Ukrainian children sit in a bus before fleeing Debaltseve, in the Donetsk region, on February 3, 2015. Ukraine's military said Wednesday that 80% of Ukrainian armed forces have now pulled out of a strategic railroad hub that's been the focus of bitter fighting with pro-Russian separatists.

The accord, between Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany, includes a ceasefire between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists and an agreement for both sides to pull back heavy weapons.

Despite frequent violations of the ceasefire, Putin said there's no need for immediate action beyond the Minsk Agreement, such as more international peace talks or the formal recognition of rebel separatist groups like the People's Republic of Donetsk and the People's Republic of Lugansk.

"I really hope (the Minsk Agreement) is implemented, and if it is -- it is the right way to normalization of situation in that Ukrainian region," Putin said.

But the chaos on the ground in eastern Ukraine suggests the truce is crumbling. In the past week, shelling has intensified in the city of Donetsk.

And on Friday, Ukraine's National Defense and Security Council reported 300 violations of the ceasefire, which was less than a week old.

Ukraine has said its forces won't back down until attacks from the rebels stop. Pro-Russian separatists have also accused Ukraine of instigating violence.

Putin said there's no chance Crimea -- which was annexed by Russia last year -- will go back in Ukraine.

In his interview, Putin also said there's no chance Crimea -- which was annexed by Russia last year -- will go back in Ukraine.

"Regarding the return of any territories, such things are of revengeful nature, and it is not about return of some territories somewhere," Putin said

"Crimea will remain Russian, Ukrainian, Tatar, Greek, and German -- it will be a home to all these nations. With regard to its nationality, Crimean people made their choice, which we must respect."

Anti-U.S. sentiment grows

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On the streets of Moscow, many Russian point their fingers at the United States for the Ukraine crisis.

The latest polls show 81% of Russians have a negative view of the U.S. -- the highest number since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

State-run media reports the United States wants to encroach on Russia.

And the Kremlin's propaganda campaign seems to be paying off.

"My attitude to America is bad," one woman said. "The way I watch the news, I realize the Americans want to get a hold of half of Russia."

Russia has denied widespread claims that it is supporting the pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine and has sent its own troops to the border.

The United Nations says more than 5,000 people have been killed since mid-April amid the fighting between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian troops. Many of those killed were civilians.