Russian President Vladimir Putin struck a confident tone during his annual end-of-year marathon press conference, saying he remains open to ending the war in Ukraine through negotiations while placing responsibility for any viable peace proposal squarely on Kyiv and its Western backers.
Over the course of four hours and 37 minutes, Putin fielded questions from journalists and carefully selected members of the public, touching on an eclectic range of topics. The discussion spanned everything from Russia’s education standards to speculation about extraterrestrial life and the occult, while one young journalism student even used the event to propose to his girlfriend on live television.
The extended press conference, broadcast nationwide on state television, has become a hallmark of Putin’s leadership. For years, he has used the platform to criticize Western governments, and in recent editions, the event has increasingly served as a venue to counter international scrutiny of Russia’s war in Ukraine. That conflict began nearly four years ago with Moscow’s full-scale invasion of its smaller neighbor and continues to dominate global attention.
Responding to a question from NBC News correspondent Keir Simmons, Putin said Russia remains willing to pursue a diplomatic resolution. “We are open to talks and to resolving the conflict through peaceful means,” he said, while insisting that Moscow does not view itself as accountable for the civilian toll of the war as negotiations remain stalled.
Later in the session, Putin suggested that Russia could consider easing military strikes to facilitate Ukrainian elections, which have been postponed since the war began. However, he added that any such process would need to account for voting mechanisms for millions of Ukrainians now living in territories controlled by Russia.
Addressing economic pressures, Putin conceded that Western sanctions have created certain challenges for Russia. Nevertheless, he adopted an upbeat outlook, expressing confidence in the country’s economic resilience and voicing hope that skilled young Russians who left amid the conflict would eventually return home.