Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold today, Thursday, the first major press conference since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, which will be combined with answers to questions from the public
The Kremlin (Presidency) previously reported that Putin would spend the entire day yesterday preparing the event, which normally takes place annually, but was canceled last year.
Until yesterday, more than 1.5 million questions had been received, submitted by Russians online or by telephone, according to Russian television, cited by the Spanish agency EFE. Putin is expected to pick out some of the questions raised by the public and answer questions from journalists, who will also be present in the room.
The Kremlin previously stated that this year, despite antagonism with the West, several representatives of the Western press accredited in Russia will be able to attend Putin’s conference.
The Russian leader is expected to analyze the situation on the Ukrainian front, where Moscow’s troops have been taking the lead for weeks. In addition to Ukraine, Putin is expected to discuss the situation in the world, the confrontation with the West and economic issues, including measures to deal with the sanctions imposed on Moscow.
The head of the Kremlin will also be able to talk about his electoral campaign, after having recently announced that he will run for a new term in the March 2024 elections.
Putin was expected to announce his candidacy at the annual press conference, as before. The statesman, who has been in power since 2000, opted, this time, for a decoration by Russian military personnel, held a week ago, to make the long-awaited announcement.
The Kremlin decided this year to combine the press conference with the question and answer session for citizens, the so-called Open Line, which used to take place in the first and second semester of each year, respectively.
In June 2021, the Russian leader, who turned 71 in October, gave the last speech of this kind.
Putin amended the Constitution, in 2020, to allow him to remain in the Kremlin for two more terms of six years each, until 2036, when he will be 84 years old.