At the year-end press conference, Mr. Putin stated the significance of demilitarizing Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 14 held his annual televised question-and-answer session (Direct Line) with Russian citizens, a traditional event that this year was combined with his year-end press conference with Russian and international journalists.

The combined event, called “End of Year Review with Vladimir Putin,” kicked off at Moscow’s historic Gostiny Dvor (Old Merchant Court) center, a few steps from Red Square, at 12 p.m. local time (4 p.m. Vietnam time).

The event is being covered by journalists from Russian domestic and regional media as well as foreign correspondents accredited in Russia.

The discussion is being moderated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov along with TV presenter Yekaterina Berezovskaya (Channel One) and journalist Pavel Zarubin (Rossiya-1 TV).

Questions for President Putin were submitted by ordinary Russian citizens across the country via a website dedicated to the event (moskva-putinu.ru) in text or video form, as well as via social networks and a toll-free telephone line.

At this year's 2-in-1 event, the Russian leader touched on a range of issues, from the economy to the conflict in Ukraine and relations between Moscow and the West.

Media members hold up their cards as they wait to ask Russian President Vladimir Putin a question at the 2-in-1 event at the Gostiny Dvor center in Moscow, December 14, 2023. Photo: Sputnik

According to Mr. Putin, Russian forces have destroyed countless tanks and armored vehicles of various types since Ukraine launched its counteroffensive in June.

“Since the start of the so-called counteroffensive (by Ukraine), we have destroyed 747 tanks – this is data from last night (December 13) – and almost 2,300 armored vehicles. This is what demilitarization means,” Putin said.

Mr Putin made it clear that Western countries had sent about 400 tanks to Ukraine. According to the Russian President, the West had provided Kiev with the number of tanks they had promised.

The Russian head of state also noted that certain demilitarization limits were agreed upon during talks in Istanbul in early 2022 between Moscow and Kiev, but the agreements reached then were subsequently “thrown down the drain.”

“There will be peace when we achieve our goals. Let me repeat these goals: They have not changed. I will remind you of what we said then: the de-fascization of Ukraine, its demilitarization, its neutrality.”

“As for demilitarization, if they do not want to reach an agreement, then we will be forced to take other measures, including military ones. Or we will agree on certain terms. By the way, we agreed on these during the Istanbul talks. But then these agreements were canceled. But we agreed on this. There are other possibilities – to reach an agreement or to resolve it by force. This is what we will try to achieve.”

“Almost across the entire front line, our armed forces are, to put it modestly, improving their position. Almost everyone is in a phase of active action. The situation of our army is improving across the board.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin at a televised Q&A session and year-end press conference on December 14, 2023. Photo: Getty Images

Regarding the possibility of general mobilization, Mr. Putin said that Russia had mobilized part of it, with 300,000 people. He said: “The guys are fighting well, really well. 14 heroes of Russia. I think 244,000 people are in the special military operation area... Then we started the campaign to attract people on a voluntary basis to sign contracts with the armed forces. As of yesterday evening, I was told that we had reached 486,000 people.”

“The number of people ready to take up arms to defend our homeland has not decreased. Together with volunteers, there are probably about half a million people. There is no need to mobilize more at the moment.”

On the economic front, the Russian president said the most important indicator is economic growth, and predicted Russia's GDP growth in 2023 at 3.5%. “This is a good indicator, it means that we have recovered from last year's decline... and we have made a relatively serious step forward,” he said.

“Unfortunately, inflation has increased. It is expected to be at 7.5% by the end of the year, maybe a little higher at 8%, but the Central Bank and the Government are taking the necessary measures . ”

Minh Duc (According to TASS, Reuters)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/hop-bao-cuoi-nam-ong-putin-neu-y-nghia-cua-phi-quan-su-hoa-ukraine-a640715.html