Boosted by Kyiv’s latest struggles on the battlefield, President Vladimir Putin talked up Russia’s offensive in Ukraine throughout a marathon press convention Thursday.
The interview, the place he disregarded practically two years of Western sanctions and reaffirmed his maximalist targets in Ukraine, comes per week after the 71-year-old’s announcement of plans to remain within the Kremlin till no less than 2030.
“There will be peace when we achieve our goals,” Putin stated, talking at his first conventional end-of-year look since Russia shocked the world by sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022.
Those targets “are not changing,” he insisted, “the de-nazification and de-militarization of Ukraine, and its neutral status.”
Russian forces had been “improving their position on almost the entire line of contact” in Ukraine, he stated.
Putin’s four-hour look on nationwide tv comes at one of many lowest factors for Kyiv within the battle, which has claimed tens of 1000’s of lives and erased total cities throughout Ukraine’s south and east.
Ukraine’s summer season counteroffensive petered out with out making a lot progress and its Western assist is fraying as a result of rising fatigue amid some U.S. lawmakers and frictions inside the European Union.
Putin appeared to level to those, stressing that almost two years of Western sanctions and worldwide isolation had executed little to harm Russia’s economic system or morale.
“There is enough for us not only to feel confident, but to move forward,” Putin stated.
Turning tide
The echoes of Russia’s navy operation reverberated within the grand Moscow corridor the place a whole bunch of journalists handed 4 police checkpoints to listen to Putin converse.
Russia stated it had downed 9 Ukrainian drones heading for Moscow simply hours earlier than Putin’s occasion was set to kick off.
Ukraine stated it had shot down all however one of many 42 Russian drones that attacked Odesa, in a barrage that wounded 11 individuals.
Putin’s choreographed call-in present was canceled final 12 months as Moscow reeled from navy failures, with Ukraine managing to repel the Kremlin’s preliminary assault on Kyiv after which regaining territory within the east and south.
Ukraine’s robust resistance and assist from its allies had stunned observers all over the world and in Moscow, the place many had anticipated to take Kyiv in a number of days.
But nearly two years into his offensive, Putin seems to be sensing the tide handing over his favor.
European cracks
Putin’s convention coincided with an important summit in Brussels throughout which Ukraine had hoped to safe a transparent path to membership of the EU.
But that drive has been hampered by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a Putin ally who stands firmly towards Ukraine’s membership.
Orban reaffirmed that place earlier than the beginning of talks in Brussels Thursday, telling reporters Kyiv had not but met the “merit-based” standards to affix the bloc.
“There is no reason to discuss anything because preconditions were not met,” Orban stated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy countered that Putin would attempt to exploit the Brussels summit’s failure, arguing that “now is not the time for half-measures or hesitation.”
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg reaffirmed that decision, warning Putin might assault different nations if Western navy assist for Kyiv fades.
“If Putin wins in Ukraine, there is real risk that his aggression will not end there,” Stoltenberg stated.
“Our support is not charity – it is an investment in our security.”
‘Hopes’ for detained Americans
Putin was additional bolstered by Zelenskyy’s go to this week to Washington, the place he failed to beat Republican opposition in Congress to approving a brand new $60-billion help bundle.
Moscow, in the meantime, remains to be in a position to maintain its navy effort by oil gross sales, which Putin mentioned this month within the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Addressing worries at residence, Putin sought to minimize the concept of one other navy draft, after a September 2022 call-up led to protests and a mass exodus of males.
Having confirmed plans to hunt one other time period in March, he stated Russia already had “617,000 people in the conflict zone” and was recruiting 1,500 individuals every day.
“To date, there is no need for a new mobilisation,” he stated.
Opposition to Putin has been muzzled by an intensifying crackdown on dissent and on the media, which has additionally affected the Western press.
Wall Street Journal Moscow correspondent Evan Gershkovich has been in detention in Russia since March on spy prices that he and his employer denies.
Putin stated there’s “dialogue” with the U.S. on Gershkovich and one other detained American, former Marine and businessman Paul Whelan.
“I hope we will find a solution,” Putin stated, responding to a query a few attainable prisoner swap.
But Washington “should also hear us and make a decision that will suit the Russian Federation,” he stated.
Washington stated Tuesday that Russia had rejected a brand new proposal to free each males.
Source: www.dailysabah.com