Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, stated that Russia won’t start more wars after Ukraine, but only if Western countries treat Russia with respect and acknowledge its security needs. During a four-hour televised news conference, Putin dismissed Western worries that Russia might attack other European countries, calling those fears nonsense.
The broadcast, a regular event for Putin, included questions from journalists and the public. It was his most public talk in recent months. When the BBC asked if Russia was planning more special military operations, Putin said future wars could be avoided if Western nations worked together.
There won’t be any operations if you treat us with respect, if you respect our interests just as we’ve always tried to respect yours,” he commented.
These words echoed his recent claims that Russia did not want war with Europe but was ready if challenged. He again said Western governments betrayed Moscow, recalling what he called US and NATO promises in 1990 to limit NATO growth. However, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev later said no promise had been made.
Behind Putin, a large map showed Ukrainian areas under Russian control, including Crimea. Russian media said over three million questions were sent in for the event, but most seemed controlled. Even so, some critical messages from the public appeared on a big screen, like complaints about bad internet and rising living costs.
Money issues came up often. Russia is dealing with rising prices, slower growth, and new taxes, like a VAT increase from 20% to 22% on January 1. One message read, Stop the rise in prices on everything! At the same time, Russia’s central bank said it was lowering interest rates to 16%. It answered questions about everything from fish prices and support for veterans to energy shortages in some regions. But the war in Ukraine, now going into its fourth year, took up most of the time. Putin repeated that Moscow was ready to end the war peacefully, but made it clear Russia wouldn’t back down from its claims to land.
He mentioned plans for 2024, like Ukrainian troops leaving four occupied areas and Ukraine giving up its plans to join NATO. Russia still wants full control of the eastern Donbas, including parts of Donetsk not yet controlled by Moscow.
Putin mocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s trip to Kupiansk, where Kyiv showed the town was not controlled by Russia. He also said Russia would stop missile strikes during elections in Ukraine if voting was part of any deal made in talks.
The Kremlin said it welcomed US President Donald Trump’s efforts to broker a peace deal, but Putin blamed Western governments for blocking progress. Answering a question from NBC, he said responsibility for deaths and injuries rested with the leaders of the Kyiv regime and their European allies.
The ball is in the hands of our Western opponents,” Putin said. “We are ready to cease these hostilities immediately, provided that Russia’s medium- and long-term security is ensured.
Talks are ongoing, with Ukrainian officials meeting Trump advisers in Miami, along with groups from Germany, France, and the UK. Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev may also visit Miami soon.
European intelligence agencies have warned that Russia might be a direct danger to NATO in the next few years. NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte said Russia is stepping up secret operations and that NATO needs to prepare for a possible war.
Not all questions were about politics. A journalist from Yakutia, in Siberia, pointed out that energy prices had risen tenfold in four years. Putin said his government would look into other energy options. At the end of the broadcast, Putin quickly shared his thoughts on things from religion to friendship. When asked about love at first sight, he said he believed in it and that he was in love, without saying who.
As the long event ended, Putin portrayed Russia as a strong country under attack, ready for peace but not willing to give up its main demands. With the war dragging on and money problems growing at home, his message seemed meant to reassure Russians while telling the West that Russia’s plans will not change unless the politics do.
