Putin doubles down on war in Ukraine. ‘Victory will be ours.’

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Dec. 14 that 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.

Speaking at a year-end news conference that lasted over four hours and offered him an opportunity to reinforce his grip on power, Mr. Putin gave some rare details on what Moscow calls its “special military operation.”

He dismissed the need for a second wave of mobilization of reservists to fight in Ukraine – 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.

“There will be peace when we will achieve our goals,” Mr. Putin said, repeating a frequent Kremlin line. “Victory will be ours.”

Mr. Putin highlighted Russian military gains in Ukraine as the conflict’s second winter approached.

“Almost all along the line of contact our armed forces, let’s put it modestly, are improving their positions, almost all in an active stage of action and there is an improvement in the position of our troops all along,” he said.

“The enemy has declared a big counteroffensive, but he hasn’t achieved anything anywhere,” Mr. Putin added, claiming that the latest Ukrainian attempt to create a bridgehead on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River also fizzled and Ukrainian troops suffered heavy losses.

He alleged that Kyiv was sacrificing its troops in order to show some success to its Western sponsors as it seeks more aid.

“I believe it’s stupid and irresponsible on behalf of the country’s political leadership, but it’s their business,” he said.

Mr. 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’t hold his traditional news conference last year after his military failed to take Kyiv and as the Ukrainian army retook territory in the east and south.

But with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy forced to plead for more aid from the United States amid a stalling counteroffensive and fracturing Western support, he decided to face the media once more – although the session is heavily choreographed and is more about spectacle than scrutiny.

It was the first time that Mr. Putin, who has heavily limited his interaction with foreign media, faced questions from Western journalists since the fighting in Ukraine began. Ordinary citizens had the chance to submit questions alongside those from journalists, and Russian state media said at least 2 million of them had been sent in ahead of time.

The news conference began with questions about Ukraine and highlighted concerns some Russians have about another wave of mobilization.

“There is no need” for mobilization now, Mr. Putin said, because 1,500 men are being recruited every day. As of the evening of Dec. 13, 486,000 soldiers have signed a contract with the Russian military, he said.

Mr. Putin’s 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 “partial” call-up.

The move, which he announced in September 2022, prompted thousands of Russians to leave the country.

He reiterated that Moscow’s goals in Ukraine – “de-Nazification, de-militarization, and a neutral status” of Ukraine – remain unchanged. He had spelled out those loosely defined objectives the day he sent troops into its neighbor in February 2022.

The claim of “de-Nazification” refers to Russia’s allegations that Ukraine’s government is heavily influenced by radical nationalist and neo-Nazi groups – an allegation derided by Kyiv and the West.

Mr. Putin has also demanded that Ukraine remain neutral and refrain from joining NATO.

Mr. Putin’s 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.

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.

Shortly before Mr. Putin spoke, a Russian court ruled that Mr. Gershkovich must stay behind bars until at least Jan. 30.

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.

Russia recently rejected an offer to bring home Mr. Gershkovich and Mr. Whelan, who both have been declared wrongfully detained by the U.S. government.

“We’re not refusing to return them,” Mr. Putin said Dec. 14, adding that he wanted to reach an agreement but “it’s not easy.”

He refused to go into details of any exchange but said Washington “must hear us” and make an offer that satisfies Russia.

Mr. Putin appeared calm and relaxed during the news conference, although he frequently cleared his throat – 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.

Responding to a final question about what kind of warning he would have given to himself from today’s perspective when he started his first term in 2000, Mr. Putin said he would have warned against “naivety and excessive trustfulness regarding our so-called partners.”

During a question about the cost of toll roads, Mr. Putin took notes and gave the impression he was doing sums in a notebook.

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 “my favorite president” to complain about the soaring price of eggs.

“I regret and apologize about that. A glitch in the work of the government,” Mr. Putin replied, explaining that egg production has not matched demand and blaming the government for not increasing imports quickly enough.

Although the news conference is heavily choreographed, some questions – which Mr. Putin didn’t answer – appeared to slip through the net, appearing on screens around the hall.

“Mr. President, when will the real Russia be the same as the one on TV?” one text message said, apparently referring to the Kremlin’s control over the media that portrays Mr. Putin in a positive light, glosses over the country’s problems, and highlights its achievements.

Another read: “I’d like to know, when will our president pay attention to his own country? We’ve got no education, no health care. The abyss lies ahead.”

Mr. Putin was asked by an artificial intelligence version of himself, speaking with his face and voice, on whether he uses body doubles — a subject of intense speculation by some Kremlin watchers. Mr. Putin brushed off the suggestion.

“Only one person should look like myself and talk in my voice – that person is going to be me,” he said, deadpanning: “By the way, this is my first double.”

Journalists lined up in freezing temperatures to get into the venue hours before Mr. Putin’s 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.

Attendees were tested for COVID-19 and flu before entering the site. Mr. Putin enforced strict quarantine for visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Emma Burrows in London and Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed.