By means of George Wright, Vitaliy Shevchenko & Paul KirbyBBC News14 December 2023, 09:42 GMTUpdated 56 mins agoVideo caption, Watch: Russia can not exist with out sovereignty, says PutinRussian President Vladimir Putin has mentioned peace with Ukraine will most effective happen “after we succeed in our targets”.He used to be fielding questions from reporters and bizarre Russians in his first marathon information convention because the full-scale invasion of Ukraine started in February 2022.A lot of the in large part choreographed tournament interested by what he calls the “particular army operation in Ukraine”. He insisted the placement used to be making improvements to all the way through the entrance line.The “direct line” programme, televised for greater than 4 hours via maximum primary channels, started with President Putin telling Russians: “The lifestyles of our nation with out sovereignty is not possible. It is going to merely now not exist.” He added that Russia’s economic system used to be sturdy for a time of struggle and the subject of dialog briefly moved to Ukraine. ‘617,000 Russians combating in Ukraine’Mr Putin mentioned that “there will probably be peace [in Ukraine] after we succeed in our targets”. The ones “targets don’t trade”, he mentioned, list “denazification, demilitarisation and its impartial standing”. Those are topics he has highlighted from the beginning of the struggle.At one level he published that Russia these days has a complete of 617,000 troops combating in Ukraine. He additionally claimed that on best of 300,000 other people known as up for provider final 12 months, every other 486,000 have signed up voluntarily as contract squaddies.”The movement of our males who’re in a position to protect the pursuits of the fatherland with guns of their fingers isn’t diminishing,” he mentioned. “Altogether there will probably be slightly below part 1,000,000 males via the top of this 12 months. Why do we want a mobilisation?”He gave no collection of army losses, however disclosed that kids of other people inside his “shut” circle have fought for so-called non-public army corporations, and a lot of other people “with reference to me” have died.A categorized US intelligence file estimated this week that 315,000 Russian squaddies were both killed or wounded because the struggle started – which it mentioned used to be nearly 90% of Russia’s army group of workers at the beginning of the invasion.Symbol supply, GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/POOL/AFPImage caption, The marathon tournament, cancelled final 12 months, combines in moderation vetted questions from bizarre Russians in addition to reporters within the studioAside from the spontaneous questions put to Mr Putin via Russian and global reporters, a reported two million questions have been submitted for the development via bizarre Russians and in moderation vetted previously.A struggle reporter for Russian day-to-day Izvestia based totally in occupied Luhansk in japanese Ukraine tasked Mr Putin about Ukraine’s contemporary foothold at the Russian-occupied east financial institution of the Dnipro river.Describing Ukraine’s army luck in a “small house” as a last-ditch strive via Ukraine to damage thru to Crimea, President Putin defined that Russian forces determined to withdraw a number of metres into wooded spaces “to avoid wasting our lads”. He went on to indicate Kyiv’s primary cause is to turn the West that it wishes extra army investment.”I do not know why they’re doing it, they’re pushing their other people to get killed, it is a one-way shuttle for Ukrainian forces. The explanations for this are political, as a result of Ukrainian leaders are begging overseas nations for support.”Mr Putin mentioned reinforce for Ukraine from its allies used to be operating out.”Lately Ukraine produces nearly not anything,” he mentioned. “Excuse my vulgarity, however the whole lot is being introduced in as a freebie. However the ones freebies may just run out one day. And it kind of feels that they’re step by step operating out.”Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky warned the EU summit that Mr Putin would use indecision in regards to the Ukraine struggle in opposition to them.”Other people in Europe would possibly not see any get advantages if Moscow receives a move from Brussels within the type of negativity in opposition to Ukraine. Putin will no doubt use this in opposition to you for my part, and in opposition to all of Europe,” Mr Zelensky mentioned by means of videolink.Mr Putin went on to assert that Russian forces had the higher hand around the entrance line in Ukraine. “Nearly alongside all the line of touch our defense force are making improvements to their scenario, to place it modestly,” he mentioned at his marathon information convention.There was little or no motion at the entrance line in contemporary months, however Russia is concentrated on two japanese cities within the Donetsk area, Mariinka and Avdiivka.Mr Putin insisted that Russia may just “transfer ahead” regardless of Western financial sanctions and political isolation stemming from its Ukraine invasion.American citizens held in Russian jailsMr Putin additionally coated Russian members of the family with america and EU.He described the United States as a very powerful nation however accused it of imperialism. He instructed the United States to “appreciate people and nations” and mentioned Russia used to be in a position to revive members of the family as soon as this took place.New York Instances correspondent Valerie Hopkins requested the Russian chief what it will take for Russia to free up two Americans held in Russian jails – the Wall Side road Magazine’s extensively revered correspondent Evan Gershkovich and previous marine Paul Whelan. America sees each males as wrongfully detained and Mr Gershkovich’s detention used to be prolonged on Thursday till 30 January. He used to be arrested whilst he used to be reporting for the newspaper within the town of Yekaterinburg and accused of espionage, which he and his colleagues firmly deny.”As regards a conceivable alternate… we need to achieve an settlement, and that settlement should be mutually applicable and go well with each side,” Mr Putin answered, declaring the boys have been topic to a court docket order.”A discussion at the topic is below manner. It is a tough discussion and I would possibly not cross into the main points now, however I feel at the complete we are talking in a language which we each perceive. I am hoping we discover a answer.”Symbol caption, Record pic from October 2023: Evan Gershkovich has been held in Russian jails since he used to be arrested all through a reporting shuttle in MarchAt one level President Putin seemed to ascertain that opposition figures have been being hunted in Russia. Requested via a reporter whether or not the legal code could be modified to forestall a “witch-hunt” in opposition to reporters together with a pro-Kremlin colleague, Mr Putin mentioned: “What did she do to be hunted? What’s she, some large opposition determine or one thing?” Russia’s greatest opposition determine, Alexei Navalny, is dealing with 19 years in prison and his crew say they have got had no get right of entry to to him for greater than per week.Putin’s different speaking pointsThe Russian chief reacted to the verdict to permit Russian athletes to take part on the 2024 Olympics in Paris so long as they compete with out flags, trademarks or anthems in their countryHe mentioned that he supported Russian athletes competing however that the rustic must wonder whether it must participate if the development is designed to painting Russian game as “loss of life”He additionally spoke in regards to the scenario in Gaza, describing it as as a “disaster” unfolding on a scale that used to be “not anything like” UkraineOn synthetic intelligence (AI), Mr Putin – responding to an AI frame double of himself – mentioned Russia must develop into an international chief within the AI sphereHe once more blamed the United States for explosions that destroyed the Nord Circulation pipelines to Russia in September 2022, with out providing any evidence.Further reporting via Sandro Vetsko
