2023-12-14 13:50:35
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, began his year-end press conference Thursday by promising that Their goals in Ukraine remain the same and? there will be no peace until they are achieved.
The Russian president, who has been in power for almost 24 years and recently announced that he will run for re-election, was received with applause when he arrived at the salon in the center of Moscow.
An elderly man follows the press conference on TV. Photo: Olesya KURPYAYEVA / AFP
This year, ordinary citizens have the opportunity to ask questions by telephone along with those of journalists, and the Russians They have been sending questions to Putin for two weeks. It is the first time that Putin, who has largely limited his interaction with foreign media, potentially faces multiple questions from western journalists since before the fighting in Ukraine began.
Putin said Thursday that Moscow’s goals – “denazification, demilitarization and a neutral status” for Ukraine – remain unchanged.
He explained those goals the day he sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022.
Moscow’s goals – “denazification, demilitarization and a neutral status” for Ukraine – remain unchanged. Photo: EFE
“Denazification” refers to Russia’s accusations that the Ukrainian government is heavily influenced by radical nationalist and neo-Nazi groups. Ukraine and the West scoff at this claim.
Putin too has demanded that Ukraine remain neutral and not join the NATO alliance.
““There will be peace when we achieve our objectives.”Putin said.
The Kremlin has repeatedly said the “special military operation” in Ukraine will continue until those goals are achieved. vaguely defined.
244 thousand more soldiers
By offering unusual details Regarding the Moscow operation, Putin said that about 244,000 soldiers who were called to fight in Ukraine They are currently on the battlefield and ruled out the need for a second wave of reservist mobilization. He did not give a total of the number of troops in Ukraine, where professional Russian military forces also fight.
“There will be peace when we achieve our goals,” Putin said. Photo: Archyde.com
In September 2022, Putin ordered a partial military call-up as he attempted to bolster his forces in Ukraine, sparking protests.
“There is no need” for mobilization now, Putin said, because Every day 1,500 men are recruited into the Russian army throughout the country. He said that as of Wednesday night, a total of 486,000 soldiers They had signed a contract with the Russian army.
In addition to the fighting in Ukraine, the press conference is expected to discuss the economy and social servicesRussian state journalists said.
Last year, Putin did not perform his usual call program with ordinary Russians nor his traditional session with journalists.
Additionally, his annual State of the Union address was delayed until February of this year. His last press conference was in 2021, amid warnings from the United States that Russia was about to send troops to Ukraine.
The progress of the war
With the future of Western aid to Ukraine in doubt and another winter of fighting looming, neither side has made significant progress on the battlefield recently. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Washington on Tuesday and made an impassioned plea for more American aid and weapons.
Putin’s appearance is primarily aimed at an internal audience and it will be an opportunity for him to personally solve the problems of ordinary Russian citizens and strengthen his grip on power before the March 17 elections.
1702562388
#peace #reach