Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday there would be no peace in Ukraine until the Kremlin realizes its goals, which remain unchanged after nearly two years of fighting that has sent tensions soaring between Moscow and the West.
Speaking at a year-end news conference that lasted over four hours and offered him an opportunity to reinforce his grip on power, Putin gave some rare details on what Moscow calls its 鈥渟pecial military operation.鈥�
He dismissed the need for a second wave of mobilization of reservists to fight in Ukraine 鈥� a move that has been deeply unpopular. He said there are some 617,000 Russian soldiers there, including around 244,000 troops who were called up to fight alongside professional military forces.
鈥淭here will be peace when we will achieve our goals,鈥� Putin said, repeating a frequent Kremlin line. 鈥淰ictory will be ours.鈥�
Putin highlighted Russian military gains in Ukraine as the conflict鈥檚 second winter approached.
鈥淎lmost all along the line of contact our armed forces, let鈥檚 put it modestly, are improving their positions, almost all in an active stage of action and there is an improvement in the position of our troops all along,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he enemy has declared a big counteroffensive, but he hasn鈥檛 achieved anything anywhere,鈥� Putin added, claiming that the latest Ukrainian attempt to create a bridgehead on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River also fizzled and Ukrainian troops suffered heavy losses.
He alleged Kyiv was sacrificing its troops in order to show some success to its Western sponsors as it seeks more aid.
鈥淚 believe it鈥檚 stupid and irresponsible on behalf of the country鈥檚 political leadership, but it鈥檚 their business,鈥� he said.
Putin, who has held power for nearly 24 years and announced last week he is , was greeted with applause as he arrived in the hall in central Moscow. He didn鈥檛 hold his traditional news conference last year after his military failed to capture Kyiv and as the Ukrainian army retook lost territory.
But with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid a stalling and he decided to face reporters once more 鈥� although the session is heavily choreographed and more spectacle than scrutiny.
It was the first time that Putin took questions from Western journalists since the fighting in Ukraine began. Ordinary citizens were able to submit questions alongside those from journalists, and Russian media said at least 2 million were sent in advance.
The news conference began with questions about Ukraine and highlighted concerns some Russians have about another wave of mobilization.
鈥淭here is no need鈥� for mobilization now, Putin said, because 1,500 men are recruited every day. As of Wednesday, 486,000 soldiers have signed contracts with the military, he said.
His remarks about another mobilization were met with skepticism by some independent Russian media, which noted he had promised not to draft reservists for Ukraine and then reversed course and ordered a The move, which he announced in September 2022, prompted thousands of Russians to flee the country.
He reiterated that Moscow鈥檚 goals in Ukraine 鈥� 鈥渄e-Nazification, de-militarization and a neutral status鈥� of Ukraine 鈥� remain unchanged. He had spelled out those loosely defined objectives the day he sent in troops February 2022.
The claim of 鈥渄e-Nazification鈥� refers to Russia鈥檚 false assertions that Ukraine鈥檚 government is heavily influenced by radical nationalist and neo-Nazi groups 鈥� an allegation derided by Kyiv and the West.
Putin has also demanded that Ukraine remain neutral and refrain from joining NATO.
He reaffirmed his claim that much of today鈥檚 Ukraine, including the Black Sea port of Odesa and other coastal areas, historically belonged to Russia and were given away by Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin.
While Moscow had accepted the new reality after the USSR鈥檚 collapse in 1991, Putin said he was forced to respond to what he described as an attempt by the West to turn Ukraine into a tool to challenge and threaten Russia.
鈥淩ussians and Ukrainians are one people, and what鈥檚 going on now is a huge tragedy, a civil war between brothers who have found themselves on the opposite sides,鈥� he added.
Putin鈥檚 last news conference was in 2021 as the U.S warned that Russia was about to send troops into Ukraine. He delayed an annual state-of-the-nation address .
Relations with the U.S. since then have plunged to new lows as the conflict continued. Russia detained Moscow-based U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich in March.
Shortly before Putin spoke, a Russian court ruled that Gershkovich, 32, until at least Jan. 30.
U.S citizen Paul Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan, also since his 2018 arrest on espionage-related charges.
Russia recently to bring home Gershkovich and Whelan, both labeled by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not refusing to return them,鈥� Putin said Thursday, adding he wanted to reach an agreement but 鈥渋t鈥檚 not easy.鈥� He refused to elaborate but said Washington 鈥渕ust hear us鈥� and make an offer that satisfies Russia.
On the Israeli-Hamas war, Putin again deplored the death of thousands of women and children in Gaza, citing U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who called it a 鈥済raveyard for children.鈥�
Putin urged stronger efforts to protect civilians and urged greater humanitarian aid, adding that Russia proposed setting up a field hospital in Gaza near the border with Egypt but Israel responded it would be unsafe. He reaffirmed a call for implementing a U.N. resolution on the creation of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Putin appeared calm and relaxed during questions, although he frequently cleared his throat, blaming the air conditioning. The event is primarily aimed at a domestic audience and is a chance for him to appear personally involved in resolving the problems of ordinary Russians and reinforce his authority ahead of the March 17 election.
Responding to a final question about what kind of warning he would have given to himself from today鈥檚 perspective when he started his first term in 2000, Putin said he would have warned against 鈥渘aivety and excessive trustfulness regarding our so-called partners.鈥�
He also fielded questions from children in Russian-annexed Crimea about the leaking roof and mold in their sports hall, and a woman who addressed 鈥渕y favorite president鈥� to complain about the rising price of eggs. Putin apologized and blamed 鈥渁 glitch in the work of the government,鈥� for not increasing imports quickly enough.
Journalists lined up in freezing temperatures to enter the hall hours before Putin鈥檚 arrival. Some donned traditional dress, including elaborate hats to catch his attention or held identifying placards.
Although the event is tightly controlled, some online questions that Putin ignored appeared on screens in the hall.
鈥淢r. President, when will the real Russia be the same as the one on TV?鈥� one text message said, apparently referring to the Kremlin鈥檚 control over the media that portrays Putin positively and glosses over the country鈥檚 problems.
Another read: 鈥淚鈥檇 like to know, when will our president pay attention to his own country? We鈥檝e got no education, no health care. The abyss lies ahead.鈥�
Putin was asked by an artificial intelligence version of himself, speaking with his face and voice, on whether he uses body doubles 鈥� a subject of by some Kremlin watchers. Putin brushed off the suggestion.
鈥淥nly one person should look like myself and talk in my voice 鈥� that person is going to be me,鈥� he said, deadpanning: 鈥淏y the way, this is my first double.鈥�
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