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During a marathon end-of-year press conference lasting four hours, Vladimir Putin presented a familiar combination of warnings and insults towards Western countries while attempting to portray a positive image of life in Russia.
But he faced backlash from regular Russian citizens when messages were displayed in front of him, appearing to be a mistake.
Last year, the traditional annual event was not held, making this year’s event the first since the Russian president initiated his war almost two years ago.
According to Mr Putin, achieving our goals is the only way to bring peace to Ukraine, effectively pressuring Kyiv into surrendering. This warning has been reiterated by Russia, as Ukraine’s forces have fiercely defended their land.
Putin gave his first press conference since he commanded the invasion of Ukraine in February of last year.
After Mr Putin declared his intention to run for the presidency in March 2024, he needed to show support for his military efforts. However, he did acknowledge that any progress made by Russian forces in Ukraine has been limited, using Kremlin terminology. This indicates that there has been minimal advancement on the ground in recent months.
Millions of people in Russia tuned in to a highly controlled press conference where regular citizens and journalists both submitted questions. According to Russian media, there were at least 2 million pre-submitted questions, with some being displayed on a screen at the event even if they were not addressed by Mr. Putin. This resulted in some uncomfortable moments for the president.
“Why does your version of ‘reality’ contradict our actual reality?” read one message. Another message criticized the propaganda from the Kremlin, stating “Mr. President, why does the Russia portrayed on television differ from the real Russia?”
“This inquiry will not be displayed! I am curious, when will our leader prioritize their own nation? We lack proper education and healthcare. The future looks bleak…” stated one person.
Numerous individuals who have publicly expressed doubts about the conflict in Ukraine have been subjected to imprisonment, and demonstrations against the invasion are prohibited.
While Mr. Putin was talking, citizens of Ukraine hurriedly sought refuge in underground shelters as Russia initiated missile strikes on several cities throughout the country.
Earlier this month, Ukrainian soldiers from the military shot at positions held by Russian forces in Avdiivka.
According to Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky, President Putin’s recent remarks indicate his desire to engage in war, commit acts of violence, and conquer. In a tweet, Podolyak stated that Putin strongly dislikes Ukraine and that is the sole motivation for a potential widespread conflict.
The Russian president also inadvertently revealed that Russian losses during the war were significantly higher than the Kremlin had previously admitted. Mr Putin suggested that 617,000 Russians were fighting in Ukraine, having earlier claimed that 730,000 had been mobilised or volunteered.
Per military expert Yan Matveyev, an extra 250,000 Russian troops were enlisted in the initial phases of the invasion within the six months leading up to the subsequent mobilization in September 2022.
According to Mr Matveyev, Mr Putin acknowledged that 363,000 people have been lost. The last reported number of casualties from the Kremlin was in September 2022, when they stated that only 5,937 soldiers had died. Mr Matveyev’s calculations are similar to the most recent US intelligence estimates, which suggest that approximately 315,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or injured.
In the midst of the numerous discussions about Russia’s objectives in the war, President Putin also mentioned the possibility of arranging a prisoner exchange that would involve freeing Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich.
The Russian president expressed his desire for a resolution to be reached with the United States regarding Mr Gershkovich’s case. He was arrested on espionage charges and could face up to 20 years in prison. The same fate looms for his fellow American citizen, Paul Whelan, who has also been detained on similar charges. The White House has urged for the release of both men.
Putin seemed momentarily speechless when presented with an AI-generated rendition of himself.
When questioned about Mr Gershkovich and Mr Whelan, Mr Putin stated that Russia is not refusing to send them back, but rather aiming to reach mutually agreeable terms for both parties. He also mentioned ongoing communication with the US regarding this matter.
This week, Ukraine has faced diplomatic challenges as the US and EU have been embroiled in debates over providing billions of dollars in new funding for the country. During his press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a comment about Western support for Ukraine potentially dwindling. However, shortly after Putin’s conference, EU leaders made a surprising decision to begin membership negotiations with Ukraine. This move was unexpected, as Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, a supporter of Putin, had previously threatened to block such talks for several weeks.
According to EU diplomats and officials, Mr. Orban acknowledged leaving the room with the knowledge that the other leaders would proceed to vote on Ukraine. On Facebook, Orban confirmed his decision to abstain from the vote, referring to it as a “poor choice”.
Zelensky expressed his approval of the decision, stating, “This is a triumph for Ukraine and all of Europe. It serves as motivation, inspiration, and fortification.”
Kyiv received a positive development when Joe Biden’s administration was unable to secure a $60 billion aid package for the city through the US Congress. The matter of obtaining additional funding from the EU is still pending resolution.
The EU provided a welcome boost to Ukrainian President Zelensky during his visit to Brussels.
The leader of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that the decision to start negotiations for membership was both strategic and significant, and will be remembered in the history of the Union.
Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary of NATO, previously cautioned that backing Ukraine was crucial for safeguarding their independence and ensuring the safety of Europe.
He stated that if Putin is victorious in Ukraine, there is a genuine danger that his hostile actions will not stop there. Our assistance is not a donation, but rather a contribution to our own safety.
During the news conference, there was a strange moment where Mr. Putin seemed momentarily at a loss for words when shown an AI-generated version of himself.
“Hello Vladimir Vladimirovich, I am a student from St Petersburg State University. I have a question for you, do you have a lot of lookalikes?” inquired the individual, causing the audience to burst into laughter. This query caused Mr Putin, who had already been answering questions for four hours at the lengthy event, to pause momentarily.
“I notice that you bear a resemblance to me and are able to speak with my voice. However, after considering it, I have concluded that there should only be one person who shares my likeness and speaks with my voice, and that person shall be myself,” he stated. “By the way, you are my first doppelganger,” Mr Putin added as an additional thought.
There have been ongoing rumors, specifically in Western media, that Mr. Putin utilizes one or more body doubles in certain public appearances due to purported health concerns. The Kremlin has consistently refuted these claims.
Reuters contributed to this report
Source: independent.co.uk
