Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that peace with Ukraine will come only “when we achieve our objectives.”
He is holding his first major press conference since his initial full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Mr. Putin has combined his annual “direct line” phone call with Russians with a press conference.
Last year’s annual event did not take place.
The first part of this marathon event has been dominated by what Mr. Putin refers to as the “special military operation in Ukraine.”
His initial thoughts focused on the significance of Russian sovereignty. “It is impossible for our country to exist without sovereignty.” “It will simply not exist,” he told Yekaterina Berezovskaya of state-controlled Channel One.
Mr. Putin stated that Russia’s economy was strong during a time of war, and the conversation quickly shifted to Ukraine.
Mr. Putin said that “there will be peace [in Ukraine] when we achieve our objectives.” Those “objectives do not change,” he said, listing “denazification, demilitarization, and its neutral status.” These are themes he has highlighted since the start of the war.
“The stream of our men who are ready to defend the interests of the homeland with weapons in their hands is not diminishing,” he said. “Altogether, there will be just under half a million men by the end of this year. Why do we need a mobilization?”
He did not specify the number of military casualties, but he did reveal that children from his “close” circle had fought for so-called private military companies, and a number of people “close to me” had died.
According to a classified US intelligence report released this week, 315,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or injured since the war began, accounting for nearly 90% of Russia’s military personnel at the time of the invasion.
He did not specify the number of military casualties, but he did reveal that children from his “close” circle had fought for so-called private military companies, and a number of people “close to me” had died.
According to a classified US intelligence report released this week, 315,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or injured since the war began, accounting for nearly 90% of Russia’s military personnel at the time of the invasion.
“I don’t know why they are doing it; they are pushing their people to get killed; it’s a one-way trip for Ukrainian forces. The reasons for this are political, because Ukrainian leaders are begging foreign countries for aid.”
While Putin was speaking, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg held a press conference at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels, warning: “If Putin wins in Ukraine, there is a real risk that his aggression will not end there.”
“Practically along the entire line of contact, our armed forces are improving their situation, to put it modestly,” he said at his marathon news conference.
There has been little movement on the front lines in recent months, but Russia is focusing on two eastern Donetsk region towns, Mariinka and Avdiivka.
Mr. Putin insisted that Russia could “move forward” despite economic sanctions and political isolation imposed by the West as a result of its invasion of Ukraine.
Mr. Putin also discussed Russia’s relations with the United States and the European Union.
He referred to the United States as an important country but accused it of imperialism. He urged the US to “respect other people and countries” and stated that Russia was ready to resume relations once this was accomplished.
Both men are wrongfully detained in the eyes of the United States, and Mr. Gershkovich’s detention was extended on Thursday until January 30. He was arrested while reporting for the newspaper in Yekaterinburg and charged with espionage, which he and his colleagues vehemently deny.
“As regards a possible exchange, we want to reach an agreement, and that agreement must be mutually acceptable and suit both sides,” Mr. Putin responded, pointing out the men were subject to a court order.
“A dialogue on the subject is under way. It’s a difficult dialogue, and I won’t go into the details now, but I think on the whole, we’re speaking in a language that we both understand. I hope we find a solution.”
Aside from the spontaneous questions posed to Mr. Putin by Russian and international journalists, a reported two million questions were submitted by ordinary Russians for the event and carefully vetted beforehand.
