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Journalism of Courage
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday held his marathon news conference and call-in show, an annual event he uses to reinforce his authority and demonstrate control over the country’s political landscape. The tightly choreographed session, broadcast live by state-controlled TV stations across Russia’s 11 time zones, has traditionally been dominated by domestic issues.
Questions typically focus on road repairs, utility prices, medical services, family subsidies, and other economic and social matters. Journalists from over 80 regions wave colorful signs and placards near the Kremlin, vying for Putin’s attention, while Russian state media reported that more than 2 million questions were submitted by citizens ahead of the show.
This year, however, questions about Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and escalating tensions with the West are expected to take center stage. Putin, who has held power for nearly 25 years, reiterated his commitment to achieving a “victorious end” to what he calls the “special military operation” in Ukraine and highlighted Russia’s battlefield gains this year. Just days before the conference, however, the killing of a senior Russian general, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, in a bomb attack outside his Moscow apartment—an act claimed by Ukraine—brought the nearly three-year conflict into the heart of Russia’s capital.
Putin used the conference to defend Russia’s military actions, stating that last month’s strike on Ukraine with a new hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile was a response to Western allies permitting Kyiv to use longer-range weapons for strikes deep inside Russia. He warned that the new Oreshnik missile could target not just Ukraine but also military facilities in countries enabling such attacks.
While reaffirming Moscow’s readiness for peace talks, Putin maintained that Ukraine must renounce its NATO ambitions and recognize Russia’s territorial gains—conditions rejected by both Ukraine and the West.
International concerns also featured prominently, with Putin’s remarks closely watched for indications of shifts in his stance ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. Trump has expressed a desire to negotiate a settlement to end the hostilities. Meanwhile, the downfall of Syrian President Bashar Assad, to whom Putin had offered asylum, has delivered a blow to Moscow.
Russia, which intervened militarily in Syria nine years ago to support Assad’s regime, has quickly moved to engage with the victorious rebels to ensure the safety of its diplomatic and military personnel and secure an extension of leases for its air and naval bases in the country.
