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President Vladimir Putin boasted that his military operation in Ukraine has strengthened Russia and denied that the ouster of key ally Bashar Assad in Syria had hurt Moscow’s prestige, as he held his annual news conference and call-in show on Thursday.
He used the tightly choreographed event, which lasted over four hours, to reinforce his authority and demonstrate a sweeping command of everything from consumer prices to military hardware.
He claimed that sending troops into Ukraine in 2022 has boosted Russia’s military and economic power.
"Russia has become much stronger over the past two or three years because it has become a truly sovereign country," he said. "We are standing firm in terms of economy, we are strengthening our defense potential and our military capability now is the strongest in the world."
Putin, who has held power for nearly a quarter-century and was re-elected to another six-year term in February, said the military was "advancing toward achieving our goals" in what he calls the special military operation in Ukraine.
In response to a question about a new hypersonic ballistic missile that Russia used for the first time last month to strike Ukraine, Putin scoffed at claims by some Western experts that it could be intercepted by NATO’s air defences.
He mockingly challenged Ukraine’s allies to a "high-tech duel," suggesting that Moscow could give advance notice of a strike on Kyiv with the Oreshnik missile and see if the West could protect the city.
"Let them select a target, possibly in Kyiv, put their air defence assets there and we shall strike it with the Oreshnik," he said with a dry smile. "Let’s see what happens."
Russia is making steady, if slow, advances in Ukraine, but has also suffered embarrassing setbacks. On Tuesday, Lt. Gen Igor Kirillov was killed by a bomb planted outside his apartment building in Moscow – a brazen assassination claimed by Ukraine that brought the conflict once again to the streets of the Russian capital.
Putin described Kirillov’s killing as a "major blunder" of Russia’s security agencies, noting they should learn from it and improve their efficiency.
Moscow’s troops are also battling Ukrainian forces in the Russian region of Kursk, where they have launched an incursion. Asked when they would drive the Ukrainians out, Putin said "we will certainly kick them out" but wouldn’t say how long it would take.
The show, which is broadcast live by state-controlled TV across Russia’s 11 time zones, usually is dominated by domestic issues, with journalists and ordinary people calling in to ask about soaring consumer prices and mortgages, paltry pensions and shortage of doctors. But the Russian leader is particularly watched for his answers on foreign affairs.
In a flourish typical of the marathon news conferences, he asked members of the audience to unfurl a banner presented to him by marines fighting in Kursk as he spoke about Ukraine.
Putin said he was open to possible talks with US President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to negotiate a deal to end the conflict in Ukraine.
"If we meet with Mr. Trump, we will have things to discuss," he said, without elaborating.
Putin said Russia is open for compromise in potential peace talks on Ukraine.
"Politics is the art of compromise," he said. "We have always said that we are ready for both talks and compromises." At the same time, Putin added that the talks should be based on "the situation on the ground" referring to some of the conditions he previously laid out.
Conclusion:
Putin’s annual Q&A session has become a staple of Russian politics, with millions of citizens submitting questions ahead of the event. While Putin’s comments on the situation in Ukraine and Syria are closely watched, the event is also an opportunity for him to reinforce his authority and demonstrate his command of various issues.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What are the key takeaways from Putin’s annual news conference?
- Russia’s military operation in Ukraine has strengthened the country’s military and economic power.
- Russia is open to possible talks with US President-elect Donald Trump to end the conflict in Ukraine.
- The situation in Syria is complex, with Russia having achieved its goals of destroying "terrorist" groups and establishing ties with the new authorities.
- What are some of the challenges facing Russia?
- High inflation (9.3%) and consumer prices.
- The situation in Ukraine, where Russia is making slow and steady advances.
- What are some of the key issues Putin discussed during the Q&A session?
- The situation in Ukraine and Syria.
- Russia’s military capabilities and its relationship with the West.
- Economic issues, including inflation and consumer prices.
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