Russian President Vladimir Putin stood firm on his conditions for resolving the conflict in Ukraine during his annual year-end press conference on Friday. He accused the European Union of trying to seize Russian assets unlawfully.
Putin emphasized that Russia is open to a peaceful resolution based on principles outlined in a speech he delivered in June 2024. He reiterated demands for Ukraine to abandon NATO aspirations, withdraw from disputed regions claimed by Russia, reduce its military size, and grant official status to the Russian language.
The ongoing war, now in its fourth year, has reached a critical juncture following U.S.-led efforts to broker a peace deal. Diplomatic activities have intensified, with Ukraine engaging in talks with both European leaders and U.S. officials.
Despite efforts to mediate, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged the challenge of bringing both parties to the negotiating table. He stressed the importance of finding common ground for a peaceful resolution and highlighted the U.S.’s role as a mediator.
French President Emmanuel Macron indicated that if current mediation efforts fail, Europe may need to directly engage with Putin for talks. Most EU countries have limited communication with Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, while Putin has blamed NATO expansion as the primary cause of the conflict.
Putin provided a positive assessment of the military situation, claiming strategic initiative and advances by Russian forces. However, Ukraine disputes these gains, citing significant casualties resulting from the conflict.
In response to the EU’s decision to use frozen Russian assets to support a loan for Ukraine, Putin criticized the move as “daylight robbery.” He argued that such actions could have severe repercussions and undermine trust in financial systems.
As the conflict continues, both Russia and Ukraine have suffered significant casualties, with ongoing exchanges of deceased soldiers’ bodies between the two nations. Putin’s press conference coincided with one such exchange, demonstrating the ongoing human cost of the conflict.
