MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin insisted Friday that Moscow’s troops are advancing on the battlefield in Ukraine and expressed confidence that the Kremlin will achieve its goals militarily if Kiev does not agree to Russia’s terms in peace talks.
Speaking at his tightly organized annual press conference, which lasted about 4 1/2 hours, Putin announced that the Russian military had “completely seized the strategic initiative” and would make further gains by the end of the year.
In the early days of the conflict in 2022, Ukrainian forces thwarted an attempt by Russia’s larger, better-equipped army to seize the capital of Kiev. But the fighting quickly settled into a grinding battle, and Moscow’s forces have made slow and steady progress over the years. Putin repeatedly touts this progress — though it’s not the lightning-fast advance many expect.
“Our troops are advancing all along the line of contact, faster in some areas or slower in others, but the enemy is retreating in all areas,” Putin said at the live news conference, which is linked to a nationwide call-in show that gives Russians across the country the opportunity to ask questions of their leader.
Putin, 73, has ruled the country for 25 years and uses the event to cement his power and air his views on domestic and global affairs, mixing criticism of the West with promises of more social pay. Although he is sometimes asked about his personal life, he gives little information.
This year, the press conference took place against the backdrop of the peace plan in Ukraine put forward by US President Donald Trump. Despite widespread diplomatic pressure, Washington’s efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands from Moscow and Kiev.
While the program has previously focused heavily on domestic questions — and given Putin a chance to expound on topics ranging from egg prices to water cuts — Ukraine dominated it this year. Because it is highly choreographed, it may reflect the Kremlin’s desire to reassure the public after nearly four years of fighting.
Russian demands remain unchanged
Putin praised Trump’s peace efforts and confirmed that Moscow is ready for a peaceful solution that addresses the “root causes” of the conflict, a reference to the Kremlin’s difficult position for a deal. He said he agreed to make “certain deals” and “uncomfortable decisions” at an Alaska summit with Trump in August, but did not elaborate.
He wants to recognize as Russian territory all of the four major regions occupied by his forces and the Crimean peninsula, which was illegally annexed in 2014. He has called for Ukraine to withdraw from parts of eastern Ukraine that Moscow’s forces have not yet captured. Kiev has publicly rejected all these demands.
The Kremlin has also insisted that Ukraine abandon its bid to join NATO and warned that it would not accept any troop deployments from members of the military alliance and would view them as “legitimate targets”.
Putin has also repeatedly said Ukraine should limit its troop numbers and give the Russian language official status – demands he has made since the start of the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is ready to withdraw Ukraine’s offer to join NATO if Kiev provides security guarantees similar to those offered to alliance members by the United States and other Western nations. But at the same time, he emphasized that Ukraine believes NATO membership is the best security guarantee.
“The United States does not see us in NATO for now,” Zelensky said this week. “Politicians change.”
Commenting on Zelensky’s statement that he was ready to hold presidential elections if a ceasefire was established, Putin responded that Russia had held elections without demanding a ceasefire. He said Moscow was ready to consider the issue and could agree to stop attacks deep inside Ukraine on election day, but noted that millions of Ukrainians living in Russia should have the right to vote. Ukraine imposed martial law to ban the election, but Russia did not.
Putin dismissed as “absolute nonsense” Western claims about alleged Russian plans to attack European nations aimed at diverting public attention from domestic problems.
He specifically singled out NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for his statements about the Kremlin’s aggressive intentions, pointing to Trump’s recently published national security strategy that does not name Russia as a direct adversary. “How can you prepare NATO for war with Russia if a key member of NATO does not consider us an enemy?” Putin said.
He alleged that European elites “absolutely” supported Trump’s Democratic rival Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election and now hopes that the US political landscape will change after the congressional midterm elections, helping to increase pressure on the White House.
Putin has said confiscating Russia’s assets would backfire
As it faces Russia’s advances on the front line and relentless attacks on its energy facilities, Ukraine is desperately facing cash infusions from its Western allies.
On Friday, European Union leaders agreed to provide a massive interest-free loan, but they failed to resolve differences with Belgium that would have allowed them to fund frozen Russian assets.
The leaders tried to reassure Belgium, where most of the fixed assets are held, that they would be protected from any retaliation from Moscow if they supported the plan, but the leaders ultimately opted to borrow money on the capital markets.
Using Russian assets to help Kiev would have been “robbery,” Putin said, adding that the move would have scared off investors, “not only damaging the image but also undermining confidence in the eurozone.”
Putin says military numbers are strong
Putin said the flow of volunteer soldiers has remained strong, topping 400,000 this year. Because little is known about the recruiting effort, it was not possible to independently verify that claim.
But the government offers relatively high wages and extensive benefits that have helped boost army numbers. The Kremlin says it relies exclusively on volunteers to fight in Ukraine, but some media reports and rights groups say military officials often force recruits to sign military contracts.
When a soldier’s widow asked about late pension payments, Putin apologized and promised the issue would be resolved soon — a common exchange at the annual event, which he often uses to demonstrate his ability to tackle a wide range of topics and problems.
The news conference featured questions from journalists at the Gostiny Dvor Amphitheater as well as via video links across Russia. A young man in a red bow tie, carrying a placard saying he wanted to get married, used his question to propose Putin to his girlfriend. Later, an anchor hosting the show reported that she answered “yes” and joked that Putin would put up the money for the wedding.
