President Vladimir Putin declined to say when Russian forces would retake the southern Kursk region from Ukraine, insisting that they were making advances \u201calong the entire frontline,\u201d as he began his year-end news conference. <\/p>\n
The Moscow event on Thursday consists of a public Q&A session combined with a public phone-in, which Putin stages annually to show his sweeping control of all aspects of the country. <\/p>\n
Asked about Russia\u2019s southern Kursk, where Kyiv\u2019s forces are fighting to hold onto settlements following a surprise incursion launched in August, Putin declined to commit to stating when Russia would recapture the whole region \u2013 but promised it would happen. <\/p>\n
\u201cI cannot and do not want to name a specific date when they will push [the Ukrainian Armed Forces out of the Kursk region],\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur guys are fighting, there is a battle going on right now, and serious battles. It is unclear why, there was no military sense in the Ukrainian Armed Forces entering the Kursk region, or holding on there now as they are doing, throwing their best units there to be slaughtered. But nevertheless, it is happening.\u201d <\/p>\n
He added, \u201cWe will definitely push them out, there is no other way.\u201d <\/p>\n
In response to a question on how Moscow\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine \u2013 which in Russia is referred to euphemistically as the \u201cspecial military operation\u201d \u2013 was going, Putin said the \u201csituation is changing dramatically,\u201d as the war approaches its third year. <\/p>\n
\u201cMovement is going on along the entire front line, every day.\u201d <\/p>\n
He continued: \u201cAnd as I already said, we are not talking about advancing 100-200-300 meters. Our fighters are taking and returning territory in square kilometers. I want to emphasize – every day.\u201d <\/p>\n
His answer comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged in an interview published Wednesday that Ukraine lacks the strength to take back all its territory occupied by Russia. <\/p>\n
Russian forces failed to capture the capital Kyiv in the early weeks of the war, but the war in the east of Ukraine has turned into a costly and brutal war of attrition. <\/p>\n
Ukrainian forces remain in the Kursk region but have slowly ceded ground to Russian forces there. Kyiv has said North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian troops there have suffered heavy losses. <\/p>\n
Putin did not mention North Korean troops in his reply to the caller, but promised that housing and infrastructure damaged or destroyed in the fighting would be restored. <\/p>\n
\u201cI understand that there is nothing good about what is happening to you,\u201d the Russian leader said. \u201cPeople are suffering heavy losses, hardships, and daily inconveniences, especially those related to children. But rest assured, we will do everything necessary. We will restore everything.\u201d <\/p>\n
The annual event allows citizens and journalists to ask the Russian president questions directly, providing a glimpse into Putin\u2019s views on critical matters, and gives the Kremlin leader a platform to showcase his main talking points and address both domestic and international issues. The marathon sessions in the past have lasted well over four hours. <\/p>\n
This year\u2019s conference comes amid mounting economic challenges, ongoing tensions over the war on Ukraine, and increased scrutiny on Russia\u2019s international and domestic policies as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office in the United States. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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