Traditional press conference - Putin ends the year confident of victory and names conditions for peace in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reaffirmed Moscow's military goals in the Ukraine conflict and expressed confidence in his country's victory. There will only be peace when "the denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine" has been achieved, he said at his traditional end-of-year conference in Moscow. The Russian army has more than 600,000 soldiers deployed in Ukraine.
Russia's army is improving its position everywhere
Commenting on the situation at the front, Putin said that the Russian army was improving its positions "practically along the entire length of the line of contact". Ukraine had launched a counter-offensive in June, but this did not bring the successes Kiev had hoped for. The course of the front has hardly changed this year.
The Kremlin chief made it clear that he remains committed to the goals of the offensive launched in February 2022: the removal of the Ukrainian government from power, which he describes as Nazis, the destruction of the neighboring country's military capabilities and its "neutral status". According to Putin, a solution will be "achieved through negotiation or force".
According to him, 617,000 Russian soldiers are currently deployed in Ukraine. He did not provide details on the number of soldiers killed. The USA estimates that 315,000 Russian troops have been injured or killed.
The annual press conference, which is attended by hundreds of Russian and foreign journalists, usually lasts several hours. During the conference, the Russian head of state answers live questions - pre-sorted by the Kremlin - on a wide range of topics.
Vladimir Putin is "not only confident"
During his televised appearance, Putin, who announced his intention to run for president again last week, was also optimistic about the resilience of the Russian economy. The sanctions imposed by the West had hardly damaged the economy. "We have enough not only to be confident, but also to move forward," said Putin.
In his own words, the Russian president also "hopes" for a solution for the release of two US citizens imprisoned in Russia on espionage charges. There is a dialog on this topic, but it is "not uncomplicated", Putin said with regard to the US journalist Evan Gershkovich and the former soldier Paul Whelan. Meanwhile, a court in Moscow ruled that Gershkovich must remain in custody for the time being.
"I hope that we will find a solution," said Putin at his end-of-year press conference. "But the US side should also listen to us and make a decision that suits the Russian Federation."
Shortly before Putin's remarks, a Moscow court had rejected an appeal by Gershkovich against his imprisonment."Evan Gershkovich will remain in custody until January 30, 2024," the court stated on the online channel Telegram.
No evidence of US journalist's guilt
Gershkovich was arrested at the end of March during a research trip to the Urals. The 32-year-old is accused by the Russian judiciary of collecting information about the Russian arms industry, among other things. He faces up to 20 years in prison. The reporter, his family, his employer and the US authorities reject the espionage accusations.
The Russian judiciary has not published any evidence for its accusations. The legal proceedings against Gershkovich have been classified as secret. He is the first foreign journalist to be arrested in Russia on suspicion of espionage since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
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- Evan Gershkovich, an American journalist, is currently imprisoned in Russia on espionage charges, a situation that Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed hope to resolve during his end-of-year press conference in Moscow.
- The conflict in Ukraine continues, with Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterating Russia's military goals and expressing confidence in victory, but only considering peace once "the denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine" has been achieved.
- The dispute over Evan Gershkovich's imprisonment in Russia has been a topic of discussion, with Vladimir Putin expressing hope for a resolution, citing ongoing dialogues but noting the complexity of the situation.
- Russia has a significant military presence in Ukraine, with over 600,000 soldiers currently deployed according to Putin, however, specific numbers related to casualties have not been publicly disclosed.
Source: www.stern.de
