What we know
- Russian President Vladimir Putin took questions for 4 1/2 hours on everything from his war in Ukraine to local infrastructure and aliens at his annual year-end news conference.
- Putin told NBC News’ Keir Simmons that the ball was in Ukraine and the West's court in peace talks, showing no sign of any new compromise on the Kremlin's hardline terms to end the war.
- The Russian leader insisted his military was advancing across the battlefield, projecting confidence to his domestic audience about the Kremlin's war and its economy.
- U.S. negotiators are set to meet with officials from both sides in the coming days in Miami as President Donald Trump pushes for a deal to end the conflict by Christmas.
Russian President Vladimir Putin used his traditional end-of-year marathon press conference to project confidence, expressing hope of a settlement to end the war in Ukraine but saying it is up to the West and Ukraine to deliver a suitable plan.
Across the 4 hours and 37 minutes, Putin took questions from journalists and selected members of the Russian public on everything from Russia's literacy levels to the existence of aliens and the occult. One student journalist used his moment in the spotlight to propose to his girlfriend.
The lengthy end-of-year events, broadcast in full on Russian state TV, have become an annual tradition for Putin, who has frequently used the occasion to decry the West. More recently, Putin has taken these moments to push back at criticism of the war in Ukraine, which began when he launched a fullscale invasion of his smaller neighbor and has now stretched on for nearly four years.
"We are ready for negotiations and to settle the conflict by peaceful means," Putin said in response to a question from NBC News’ Keir Simmons, adding that Russia does not consider itself "responsible for the loss of life" in Ukraine as peace talks continue.
Later, Putin indicated that Russia would be prepared to consider backing off on strikes in order to allow Ukraine to hold an election, which has been delayed since the outbreak of war. He said that Moscow would demand voting arrangements for the millions of Ukrainians living in Russian territory.
Elsewhere in the presser, Putin acknowledged that Western sanctions caused some "difficulties" for Russia, though he struck a tone of economic optimism, expressing hope about the return of "talented" young Russians who had left the country.
Putin rates high in the polls but some are grumbling on the streets
Putin’s approval ratings have remained high during the war with Ukraine, according to the only independent polling firm in Russia.
But between September and November his popularity dropped by 3%, from 87% to 84% according to the Levada Center, a nongovernmental research organization based in Moscow, which is not a state-run group.
But after almost four years of war with Ukraine, some are grumbling about basic services not being up to scratch, albeit quietly in a country where expressing dissent can lead to a lengthy prison term, especially if it's in relation to the war in Ukraine.
In the western Tver region, Anastasia said her family’s finances have been disrupted. “My mom was left without money because it turned out that the closest ATMs stopped working and the cash registers in the stores also didn’t work,” she said. “All her money was on her card. She couldn’t buy food.”
Further east in the Chuvash Republic, Artyom said there were frequent internet outages. He said it felt like tests were being conducted to make the internet more “like China.”
NBC News agreed not to use their last names because of fears about their security.
Analysis: Funds for Ukraine could make a difference on the battlefield
Europe’s compromise this week to unlock billions of dollars will have a major impact on Ukraine’s ability to fight next year.
This matters because despite the Trump Administration’s best efforts, it looks likely the war will continue.
Overnight, E.U. leaders dropped a plan to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s war effort, but agreed to provide a massive interest-free 90 billion euros ($106 billion) loan to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs.
Russia has warned the E.U. not to use the $245bn worth of assets in the European Union, most of which are held by Belgium-based financial clearing house, Euroclear.
But without a boost in funding Ukraine’s finances could have run dry in a matter of months.
On the battlefield, Russia is engaged in "positional warfare" not maneuvers designed to make "rapid large scale gains," according to an analysis this week by the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank.
Russian forces have often spent months trying to seize "small and mediumsized settlements," it said, adding that its forces had been fighting in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk for almost 140 days.
Ukrainian and Polish presidents show unity against Russia, address historical tensions
The Ukrainian and Polish presidents met in Warsaw on Friday to underline their countries’ unity in the face of Russia. They also signaled progress on historical reconciliation, which had caused tension in bilateral relations in the past.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was welcomed by his Polish counterpart, Karol Nawrocki, at the Presidential Palace for a visit intended to ensure that relations with key ally Poland remain stable, regardless of any change in power in Warsaw.
Poland’s liberal government is a solid backer of Ukraine, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk acting as one of the most visceral advocates of Kyiv in international fora. But presidential election results this year indicate that the previous, nationalist Law and Justice party might return to power in 2027.
Nawrocki, who won elections with the backing of Law and Justice, has been playing hard to get. He has requested that Ukrainians demonstrate gratitude for Polish support since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 and insisted that Kyiv should not be allowed to join the European Union unconditionally.
Speaking during a press conference on Friday, Nawrocki signaled that he was happy with Zelenskyy’s visit. He said the presence of the Ukrainian president in Warsaw was good news for Warsaw and Kyiv and bad news for Moscow.
“In strategic matters, our strategic cooperation in the field of security issues, Poland, Ukraine, countries of the region, countries filled with democratic values are together and this has never been in doubt,” Nawrocki said.
Nawrocki said Poland supported efforts to transfer frozen Russian assets to Ukraine as well as further sanctions against Russia and action against its shadow fleet. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready to share its expertise on drone defense and welcomed Polish businesses to participate in Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Putin addresses decline in people reading books
Before he wrapped up, Putin voiced concern about a decline in book readership in Russia, saying it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that books can compete with modern gadgets like tablets.
There must be a "vivid, engaging, and accessible way to communicate the value of books to children," he said.
Ukraine and the U.S. hail major progress in peace talks, but huge hurdles remain
Washington and Kyiv appear to have made notable shifts to secure progress but huge questions remain, not least whether Moscow will once again flatly reject the idea of making any significant concessions.
And while the U.S. has now offered Ukraine the robust security guarantees it has long sought, the fate of key territory on the conflict’s eastern front lines remains pivotal, yet unresolved.
Putin responds to reports of Ukrainian strike on tanker
As Putin touts Russia's military prowess at his year-end event, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) struck a Russian tanker in the Mediterranean for the first time, an SBU source told NBC News.
Informed of the attack by one of the press conference's hosts, Putin said it "will not lead to the expected result and will not damage any supplies," only creating "additional threat."
According to the SBU source, the tanker had been used to bypass international sanctions and generate revenue that financed Russia’s war against Ukraine.
"Our response will follow," Putin said.
Putin faces questions on aliens and the occult
Beyond stark geopolitical and military issues, Putin also addressed several unconventional and bizarre topics from members of the public.
The Russian president responded with humor when asked "to wink with your left eye if you know that aliens exist."
"I’ll tell you but this must remain strictly between us," he said to the woman named Kristina. Referencing a forecast of an unusual object approaching Earth, he joked: "It’s our secret weapon, but we will use it only in the most extreme case, because we oppose the placement of weapons in outer space."
"But seriously — it’s a comet," he added.
Speaking on public concerns about threats to traditional religions in Russia, he said that the spread of "misleading nonsense" in the form of Satanism and occult practices harms Russians’ mental and physical health, and must be actively opposed.
Putin says Russia could hold back on strikes to let Ukraine vote
At the end of his 4 1/2-hour news conference, the Russian leader said that Ukraine could hold elections without a ceasefire, while warning against using a vote to “halt the offensive momentum” of Russian forces.
In unusually direct remarks, Putin said however that Russia would be prepared to consider security guarantees during an election, including refraining from strikes deep inside Ukrainian territory on voting day. He added that Moscow would demand voting arrangements for Ukrainians living in Russia, saying millions of Ukrainian citizens residing on Russian territory should be allowed to vote there.
Putin said the issue requires “careful examination,” but argued that Ukrainian authorities ultimately need elections to be considered legitimate.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked lawmakers for proposals on how to hold an election after Trump echoed that Kremlin talking point. Ukraine's constitution outlaws elections when martial law is in place, as it has been since the Kremlin's full-scale invasion in 2022.
Putin wraps up after 4 1/2 hours focused on Ukraine
Vladimir Putin has concluded his marathon year-end news conference, which started only 10 minutes later than scheduled and lasted 4 hours 27 minutes, matching the length of last year’s event.
According to Russian media, Putin answered a total of 83 questions.
The dominant topic was Russia’s war in Ukraine, with the president reiterating familiar talking points and updates on military developments that projected positivity to his domestic audience.
There was also a range of offbeat questions from ordinary citizens, who seized the chance to ask the Russian leader unexpected questions about books, aliens and the occult.
In one moment, a student journalist proposed to his girlfriend, who was watching on TV, before posing a question to Putin.
Putin urges Russians to make it 'fashionable' to have children
Turning to domestic issues, Putin argues that having children should become “fashionable” in Russia. He appeals directly to journalists and cultural figures, urging them to shape public discussion in ways that promote family life. While acknowledging the importance of material support, Putin says “the state of the soul” matters just as much.
He describes a familiar pattern among young Russians, particularly women — prioritizing education and early career steps, having a first child around age 30, and lacking the energy for a second.
Making parenthood aspirational, he says, is essential so people understand “the happiness of motherhood and fatherhood.”
The Kremlin has been making efforts to combat the demographic strain of falling birth rates, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, which authorities say could threaten the country’s long-term outlook.
