\nMOSCOW, 14 Dec (AP) \u2014 Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday there would be no peace in Ukraine until the Kremlin realizes its goals, which remain unchanged after nearly two years of fighting that has sent tensions soaring between Moscow and the West.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a year-end news conference that offered him an opportunity to reinforce his grip on power, Putin gave some rare details on what Moscow calls its \u201cspecial military operation.\u201d<\/p>\n
He dismissed the need for a second wave of mobilization of reservists to fight in Ukraine \u2014 a move that has been deeply unpopular. He said there are some 617,000 Russian soldiers there, including around 244,000 troops who were called up to fight alongside professional military forces.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be peace when we will achieve our goals,\u201d Putin said, repeating a frequent Kremlin line. \u201cVictory will be ours.\u201d<\/p>\n
Putin, who has held power for nearly 24 years and announced last week he is running for reelection, was greeted with applause as he arrived in the hall in central Moscow. He didn\u2019t hold his traditional press conference last year after his military failed to take Kyiv and as the Ukrainian army retook territory in the east and south of the country.<\/p>\n
But with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy now forced to plead for more U.S aid, a stalling counteroffensive and reports of fracturing Western support for Kyiv, he decided to face the media once more \u2014 although the session is heavily choreographed and is more about spectacle than scrutiny.<\/p>\n
This year, ordinary citizens had the chance to phone in questions along with those from journalists, and Russian state media said at least 2 million questions for Putin had been submitted ahead of time.<\/p>\n
It is the first time Putin, who has heavily limited his interaction with foreign media, faced questions from Western journalists since the fighting in Ukraine began.<\/p>\n
The news conference opened with questions about Ukraine and highlighted concerns some Russians have about another wave of mobilization.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no need\u201d for mobilization now, Putin said, because 1,500 men are being recruited into the army every day. As of Wednesday evening, 486,000 soldiers have signed a contract with the Russian military, he said.<\/p>\n
Putin\u2019s remarks about another wave of mobilization were met with skepticism by some independent Russian media, which pointed out that he had promised not to draft reservists for Ukraine and then reversed course and ordered a \u201cpartial\u201d call-up.<\/p>\n
The move, which he announced in September 2022, prompted thousands of Russians to leave the country.<\/p>\n
He reiterated that Moscow\u2019s goals in Ukraine \u2014 \u201cde-Nazification, de-militarization and a neutral status\u201d of Ukraine \u2014 remain unchanged. He had spelled out those loosely defined objectives the day he sent troops into its neighbor in February 2022.<\/p>\n
The claim of \u201cde-Nazification\u201d refers to Russia\u2019s allegations that Ukraine\u2019s government is heavily influenced by radical nationalist and neo-Nazi groups \u2014 an allegation derided by Kyiv and the West.<\/p>\n
Putin has also demanded that Ukraine remain neutral and refrain from joining NATO.<\/p>\n
Putin\u2019s last news conference was in 2021 amid U.S warnings that Russia was on the brink of sending troops into Ukraine. He delayed his annual state-of-the-nation address until February of this year.<\/p>\n
Relations since then between Russia and the U.S. have plunged to new lows as the conflict has continued and after Moscow detained U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich while on a reporting trip to Russia in March.<\/p>\n
Shortly before Putin spoke, a Russian court ruled that Gershkovich, 32, must stay behind bars until at least Jan. 30.<\/p>\n
U.S citizen Paul Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan, also has been jailed in Russia since his 2018 arrest on espionage-related charges.<\/p>\n
Russia recently rejected an offer to bring home Gershkovich and Whelan, who both have been declared wrongfully detained by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not refusing to return them,\u201d Putin said Thursday, adding that he wanted to reach an agreement but \u201cit\u2019s not easy.\u201d<\/p>\n
He refused to go into details of any exchange but said Washington \u201cmust hear us\u201d and make an offer that satisfies Russia.<\/p>\n
Putin appeared calm and relaxed during the news conference, although he frequently cleared his throat \u2014 blaming the air conditioning. His appearance is primarily aimed at a domestic audience and is a chance for him to appear personally involved in resolving the problems of ordinary Russians and reinforce his authority ahead of the March 17 election.<\/p>\n
During a question about the cost of toll roads, Putin took notes and gave the impression he was doing sums in a notebook.<\/p>\n
He also fielded questions from a group of children in Russian-annexed Crimea about the leaking roof and mold in their sports hall and a woman who addressed \u201cmy favorite president\u201d to complain about the soaring price of eggs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI regret and apologize about that. A glitch in the work of the government,\u201d Putin replied, explaining that egg production has not matched demand and blaming the government for not increasing imports quickly enough.<\/p>\n
Although the news conference is heavily choreographed, some questions — which Putin didn\u2019t answer — appeared to slip through the net, appearing on screens around the hall.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. President, when will the real Russia be the same as the one on TV?\u201d one text message said, apparently referring to the Kremlin\u2019s control over the media that portrays Putin in a positive light, glosses over the country\u2019s problems and highlights its achievements.<\/p>\n
Another read: \u201cI\u2019d like to know, when will our president pay attention to his own country? We\u2019ve got no education, no health care. The abyss lies ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
Putin was asked by an artificial intelligence version of himself, speaking with his face and voice, on whether he uses body doubles \u2014 a subject of intense speculation by some Kremlin watchers. Putin brushed off the suggestion.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly one person should look like myself and talk in my voice — that person is going to be me,\u201d he said, deadpanning: \u201cBy the way, this is my first double.\u201d<\/p>\n
Journalists lined up in freezing temperatures to get into the venue hours before Putin\u2019s arrival and some donned traditional dress, including elaborate hats to catch his attention. Many journalists also held placards, prompting the Kremlin to limit their size.<\/p>\n
Attendees were tested for COVID-19 and flu before entering the site. Putin enforced strict quarantine for visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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