Putin Addresses Press on War, Economics, and UFOs: Highlights from His Annual Conference

President Vladimir Putin conducted his annual press conference on Friday, integrating it into his televised “Direct Line” call-in program, addressing a variety of topics from the war in Ukraine to road maintenance, tax hikes, issues of phone scams, declining birth rates, and even the potential for extraterrestrial contact.

During the press conference, which lasted for over four hours, Putin quickly shifted focus to the situation in Ukraine, although he reiterated many previous statements. He accused Ukrainian leaders of lacking interest in reaching a peace agreement as the full-scale invasion nears its fourth anniversary. “After initial agreements in Istanbul, they retracted their commitment, disregarding all prior negotiations. Effectively, they are turning their backs on peaceful resolutions,” he stated to the assembled journalists.

Despite this, Putin expressed that there are indications, including from the Ukrainian government, suggesting a willingness to engage in dialogue, perhaps alluding to the possibility of future peace talks led by the Trump administration.

Putin remained steadfast in his resolve to confront what he termed the “root causes” of the Ukraine conflict, a phrase used by the Kremlin to justify its invasion. He claimed that Russian military forces were achieving substantial victories in eastern Ukraine, including the reported capture of Kupiansk.

When an NBC correspondent questioned whether he would assume responsibility for the continued loss of life among Ukrainians and Russians if the war persisted due to his refusal of a U.S.-facilitated peace deal, Putin asserted that the fault lay with the authorities in Kyiv. “We did not initiate this conflict,” he insisted, despite having ordered the invasion in 2022. “This war began after the unconstitutional armed coup in 2014, which was followed by hostile actions from the Kyiv leadership against their own populace.”

Regarding the prospect of improving ties with NATO, Putin reiterated his long-held grievances with the alliance, claiming that Russia was “misled” into believing that NATO would not extend its reach towards Russia’s borders. “The expansion of military infrastructure towards our territory has raised, and continues to raise, our legitimate concerns,” he remarked, adding that Russia is not “demanding anything unreasonable” in the ongoing discussions regarding peace in Ukraine.

He emphasized, “We are merely insisting on the honor of the commitments made to us and our Western counterparts. We were deceived, and we seek to establish an agreement that ensures a reliable security framework in Europe.”

In anticipation of the call-in event, state media reported that nearly 3 million messages had been submitted from across Russia and beyond for Putin to address during the interactive segment, which aimed to present him as closely attuned to the everyday concerns of ordinary Russians.

Many inquiries highlighted areas where the public feels government performance has fallen short, including state pensions, payments for soldiers in Ukraine, discounts for medical prescriptions, regular internet disruptions, and supermarket prices.

Putin’s responses this year did not present many new insights and largely adhered to established narratives. When asked about Russia’s ongoing demographic challenges characterized by low birth rates, he referenced other countries like Japan that face similar issues, suggesting that Russia’s situation is not unique or as dire as some might perceive.

In a more peculiar moment during the conference, a journalist from the Tyumen region of Western Siberia questioned Putin about whether the government had any suspicions that the comet 3I/ATLAS was an alien spaceship. “I’ll share this, but it has to remain confidential. It’s classified information. It’s our secret weapon, and we’ll activate it only if absolutely necessary,” he humorously responded while assuring the reporter that the comet posed no danger to humanity.

On economic matters, Putin acknowledged that growth has slowed to approximately 1% this year but sought to frame this figure positively by noting that Russia’s GDP has increased by 9.7% over the past three years, while the Eurozone only experienced a 3.1% rise in the same timeframe.

He also addressed concerns regarding the government’s decision to raise the value-added tax (VAT) from 20% to 22%, effective next year. The tax burden will increase for small businesses as well, with a significant reduction in the annual revenue threshold for companies required to pay VAT.

Putin indicated that the increase in consumption tax is not intended to be permanent. He stated, “The ultimate aim is to reduce the tax burden in the future. That’s the path the government intends to follow,” explaining that the adjustment was necessary to manage fiscal challenges amidst substantial military spending and decreasing energy revenue.

As the call-in program and press conference neared conclusion, Putin traditionally fielded a series of quick-fire questions covering topics such as love, friendship, his motivations, and his vision for Russia 200 years from now. When asked if he has any genuine friends, he remarked, “True friendship is selfless. Those I regard as my real friends conduct themselves in a restrained and dignified manner.”