Putin is confident of victory and reaffirms military goals in Ukraine
Commenting on the situation on the front, Putin said that the Russian army was improving its positions "practically along the entire length of the line of contact". Ukraine launched a counter-offensive in June, but it did not bring the successes Kiev had hoped for. The course of the front has hardly changed this year.
The head of the Kremlin made it clear that he remains committed to the goals of the offensive launched in February 2022: the disempowerment of the Ukrainian government, which he describes as Nazis, the destruction of the neighboring country's military capabilities and its "neutral status". A solution will be achieved "by negotiation or by force", Putin emphasized.
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.
Last year, Putin canceled his traditional press conference in light of the setbacks for his army in Ukraine. Unlike usual, this year's press conference also included a citizens' Q&A session, which had also been canceled in 2022.
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.
The Kremlin leader is also likely to feel strengthened by the increasingly hesitant attitude of Ukraine's Western allies. New billions in aid from the USA for Ukraine is currently blocked due to opposition from the Republicans.
And the EU is also struggling for further aid for Ukraine and the opening of accession negotiations with Kiev. At the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, Hungarian head of government Viktor Orban reiterated his rejection of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU. "There is no reason to discuss anything, because the conditions have not been met," said Orban.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the participants of the EU summit via video message to give the green light for the start of accession negotiations. "Don't give Vladimir Putin a victory," he said. "Now is not the time for half measures." Russian President Vladimir Putin would use such hesitation against Europe.
NATO chief Stoltenberg warned that Putin could attack other countries if the West's military support for Kiev waned. "If Putin wins in Ukraine, there is a real danger that his aggression there will not stop," said Stoltenberg in Brussels. "Our support is not charity. It is an investment in our security."
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- Despite Ukraine's counter-offensive in June, Putin is confident that the Russian army's positions are improving along the entire line of contact in Ukraine.
- Putin reaffirmed his military goals in Ukraine, which include disempowering the Ukrainian government, destroying its military capabilities, and achieving a neutral status for the neighboring country.
- The Kremlin leader mentioned that 617,000 Russian soldiers are currently deployed in Ukraine, without providing information on the number of casualties.
- The annual press conference hosted by Putin attracted hundreds of Russian and foreign journalists, who were allowed to ask live questions on various topics.
- Last year, Putin canceled his traditional press conference due to setbacks for his army in Ukraine, but he attended this year's event, which also featured a citizens' Q&A session.
- Putin expressed optimism about the resilience of the Russian economy, stating that sanctions imposed by the West had not significantly impacted it.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the EU summit participants to give the green light for the start of accession negotiations with Kiev, as Putin may use any hesitation as a victory.
- NATO chief Stoltenberg warned that if Putin wins in Ukraine, there's a risk he'll attack other countries, stressing that Western support for Ukraine is not charity but an investment in security.
- European countries, including Hungary, are struggling to provide further aid for Ukraine and advance accession negotiations, potentially giving Putin an opening.
Source: www.stern.de
