Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin stated at his annual press conference that peace in Ukraine would not be achieved until its goals were met, reiterating that these remained unchanged.
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In a rare revelation of details about the operation, Putin ruled out the need for a second call-up of reservists, citing the current presence of approximately 617,000 Russian troops in Ukraine, including around 244,000 called up to join professional Russian military forces.
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The previous year, Putin did not hold his usual press conference after the Russian military failed to take Kiev, and the Ukrainian army recaptured areas in the east and south of the country. With President Volodymyr Zelensky looking to Washington for support, a stalled counteroffensive and reports of a possible decline in Western support for Ukraine, Putin has chosen to face the press once again.
Furthermore, the Russian president emphasized Ukraine’s demand for neutrality, requesting that the country not join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
