Putin's Final Press Conference of 2024: Highlights From Russian Leader's Direct Line
15:14 19.12.2024 (Updated: 17:48 19.12.2024)
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On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a direct line session combined with his annual press conference in Moscow. During this event, the Russian leader answered questions from both journalists and citizens, providing an opportunity to review and reflect on the year's events.
Vladimir Putin opened his speech by highlighting Russia's economic stability and growth in the face of external pressures, noting that the economy has grown by approximately 8% over the past two years. He contrasted this with slower growth rates in Europe and the US, where economies grew by 1% and 5-6%, respectively. He pointed out that Germany, the largest economy in the Eurozone, has experienced zero growth, emphasizing the comparative success of Russia's approach.
The president credited Russia’s economic sovereignty as a key factor in its resilience, arguing that losing sovereignty would be tantamount to losing statehood itself. He stressed that the sanctions have only strengthened the country’s resolve to operate independently. Agriculture was another area of focus, with Putin highlighting Russia’s position as the world’s largest wheat exporter and predicting a record grain harvest of 130 million tonnes this year.
Foreign Relations and Global Leaders
Moving on, Vladimir Putin emphasized the strength of relations between Russia and China, describing ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping as rooted in mutual trust and confidence. According to Putin, Sino-Russian relations have reached unprecedented levels in the history of the two nations, bolstered by steadily growing trade and nearly 75 years of enduring cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic ties. He referred to Xi Jinping as a close friend, underscoring the depth of their personal and professional bond.
In addition to China, Putin highlighted his consistent communication with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, showcasing Russia's active engagement with key regional powers. Meanwhile, in discussing Syria, he noted plans to meet Syrian former President Bashar al-Assad during the latter’s stay in Moscow.
"We are in constant contact with PresidentErdogan, I don't remember when we last spoke, but we certainly discussed the situation in the region, in the Middle East," Putin said.
The Russian president said that he was unaware of Israel’s ultimate goals in the Gaza Strip, but stressed that its action deserved condemnation. He spoke during the annual "Direct Line" question-and-answer session, which was combined with an end-of-year news conference.
He also pledged to investigate the case of American journalist Austin Tice, who went missing in Syria, demonstrating a willingness to address humanitarian concerns amid complex geopolitical matters.
Reflecting on the past, Putin expressed admiration for historical figures like Helmut Kohl, Jacques Chirac, and Silvio Berlusconi, leaders he credited with fostering strong ties with Russia. In a nod to the value of personal relationships, he humorously noted his desire to spend more time with friends over tea.
Regarding US President-Elect Donald Trump, Putin revealed they had not spoken for over four years. However, he expressed readiness to meet with Trump at any time.
"I am ready for this [conversation] at any time. I will also be ready for a meeting, if he wants it," Putin said.
If the meeting with Trump does take place, the Russian leader is confident that they will have something to talk about.
"And if one day there is a meeting with the newly elected president, Mr. Trump, I am sure we will have something to talk about," Putin said.
#Putin on #Biden's pardon of his son #Hunter: "It turned out that Biden is more of a person than a politician. I wouldn't blame him for that." pic.twitter.com/8zcvYjC7ep
— Sputnik Africa (@sputnik_africa) December 19, 2024
Military Strength and Strategy
Turning to military affairs, Putin asserted that Russia's military capabilities are among the strongest globally, supported by an advanced military-industrial complex. He highlighted the development of the new intercontinental ballistic missile, "Oreshnik," underscoring that it is impervious to NATO's advanced anti-missile systems stationed in Poland. Putin personally contributed to the decision to develop this missile, which he described as an example of Russia’s cutting-edge defense technology.
The president also addressed changes in Russia’s nuclear doctrine, acknowledging uncertainty over whether the West fully grasped their significance. Shifting focus to Syria, he underscored Russia's successful intervention, which he said prevented the formation of an Islamic caliphate and thwarted the rise of terrorist groups. The use of Russian military bases for delivering humanitarian aid further highlighted the dual-purpose nature of its presence in the region.
On Ukraine, Putin described the assassination of General Kirillov as a terrorist act orchestrated by the Kiev regime, which he accused of frequently committing similar crimes without Western condemnation. Furthermore, he reaffirmed Russia’s determination to drive Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region.
Special Military Operation in Ukraine
Discussing the ongoing special military operation in Ukraine, Putin characterized it as a necessary response to circumstances in early 2022. While he acknowledged the difficulty of predicting how long the operation would last, he defended its necessity, suggesting that the decision could have been made earlier with better preparation.
#Putin called his decision to start the special military operation in Ukraine forced: "It was impossible to continue in the state we were in" pic.twitter.com/EHUXvlcSo0
— Sputnik Africa (@sputnik_africa) December 19, 2024
Putin painted a picture of steady progress, citing advances across the front line and the reclamation of territory. However, he expressed frustration with Kiev’s refusal to engage in negotiations, attributing this resistance to external influences, particularly former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Despite this, Putin reiterated Moscow’s readiness to negotiate without preconditions, based on the Istanbul agreements and the realities on the ground.
He also called peace initiatives of China, Brazil and South Africa "sincere attempts" to find a solution on Ukraine.
"As for the peace initiatives of the People's Republic of China, these include the peace initiatives of Brazil and the Republic of South Africa. Why did we pay attention to this? Because it is a sincere attempt at finding a solution. In our view, this attempt is balanced and does not impose anything on either side - neither Ukraine nor Russia," Putin said.
The president also expressed openness to negotiating with a legitimate Ukrainian leader, should Volodymyr Zelensky regain legitimacy through elections. He criticized the current Ukrainian regime for undermining its own legitimacy and tearing apart the Russian Orthodox Church, a situation he claimed the international community has chosen to ignore.
▶️ According to Vladimir #Putin, the #Zelensky dictatorship has lost legitimacy in light of the Ukrainian Constitution. pic.twitter.com/s2CCUzEgv4
— Sputnik Africa (@sputnik_africa) December 19, 2024
On the impact of sanctions, Putin dismissed them as insufficient to "kill" Russia, despite acknowledging the challenges they present. He accused the West of imposing sanctions out of fear of competition, reinforcing his narrative of resilience and defiance.
Russia Condemns Seizure of Syrian Territories by Israel
Russia condemns the seizure of any Syrian territories by Israel, Putin said.
"One can treat what Israel is doing as you like. Russia condemns the seizure of any Syrian territories. This is obvious; our position here is not subject to any adjustment. But Israel is also solving security-related issues for itself," he explained.
Russia hopes that Israel will withdraw from the territory of Syria one day, but now it is transporting troops there, and looks like it is strengthening positions, Putin said.
"After all, the main beneficiary of the ongoing events in Syria... The main beneficiary, in my opinion, is Israel," Putin added.
In addition, Putin called for solving the Kurdish problem with the authorities that control the territory of Syria.
Russia Remains Committed to Palestinian Statehood
Russia remains committed to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, the Russian leader stressed.
"Our position is well-known, both on Lebanon and on Palestine. Our position is not affected by current events. We have always believed and continue to believe that the Palestinian problem can only be solved by addressing its root cause. The UN Security Council once agreed that two states - Israel and Palestine - should be established. Israel has been created, while Palestine has in fact not been created yet. That's the whole problem," Putin said.
The Russian president said that he was unaware of Israel’s ultimate goals in the Gaza Strip, but stressed that its action deserved condemnation. He spoke during the annual "Direct Line" question-and-answer session, which was combined with an end-of-year news conference.
Technology and Media Control
In the realm of media and technology, Putin criticized Google and YouTube for failing to adhere to Russian laws. He noted that Roskomnadzor, the country’s telecom watchdog, had raised justified concerns over the platforms’ operations in Russia. According to Putin, the tech giants have created problems for themselves by not respecting local regulations.
Personal Reflections
Reflecting on the past 2.5 years since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, Putin admitted that this period has been a serious test for Russia. He acknowledged laughing and joking less during this time, signaling the weight of responsibility on his shoulders.
#Putin says he has been joking and laughing less for the past 2.5 years pic.twitter.com/mJ1jD7jOl1
— Sputnik Africa (@sputnik_africa) December 19, 2024
In response to claims of Russia’s supposed weakness, Putin quoted Mark Twain, saying, "Rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated."
