As the war in Ukraine grinds on, the stakes for Russia remain high.
What began as a “special military operation” has evolved into a prolonged and bloody conflict. Ukraine, with support from Western allies, has pushed back against Russian advances.
Meanwhile, Russia faces international isolation, sanctions, and growing internal challenges.
Against this backdrop, President Vladimir Putin used his annual end-of-year press conference to defend his leadership and recount his vision for Russia's role in the world, according to Ziare.
Pulled Back From the Brink
Vladimir Putin, who took the helm of Russia just eight years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, has now served longer than any Kremlin leader since Joseph Stalin.
Speaking on December 19, 2024, Putin said he believes he has fulfilled the mission set by his predecessor, Boris Yeltsin, to care for Russia. “We pulled back from the brink,” Putin stated.
He described Russia in the 1990s as a nation teetering on the edge of chaos, facing the risk of losing its sovereignty entirely.
“I did everything to ensure that Russia is an independent, sovereign power capable of making decisions in its own interests,” Putin said.
The ongoing war in Ukraine featured prominently in Putin’s address. He framed it as a moral battle between a “holy Russia” and a West determined to undermine it.
He promised victory for Russia, emphasizing that Ukraine’s alignment with Western powers was a betrayal of historical and cultural ties.
Putin acknowledged Russia’s economic struggles, including inflation, but insisted the nation’s growth was surpassing that of Western countries like the UK.
He extended an offer of cooperation to Britain but added that Russia would manage without it if necessary.
BBC journalist Steve Rosenberg challenged Putin with tough questions about Russia's losses in Ukraine and the expansion of NATO.
Rosenberg noted the rise of NATO-aligned countries like Finland and Sweden, which now border Russia. Putin dismissed these concerns, saying,
“We pulled back from the brink” and preserved Russia’s sovereignty, which he described as essential for its survival.
