Live updates: Vladimir Putin tells NBC News the ball is in Ukraine's court to end the war and signals no new compromise

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Read the full story here.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Kirill Bazhanov, a 23-year-old student, proposes to his girlfriend who was watching the conference on TV. Gavriil Grigorov / AFP via Getty Images

In one moment, a student journalist proposed to his girlfriend, who was watching on TV, before posing a question to Putin.

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. 

Putin said he would like to see next year unfold "in peace and without any military conflicts," stressing that Russia aims to resolve all disputed issues through negotiations.

Yet he again emphasized the need to address what he calls the “root causes” of the conflict, suggesting little shift away from the Kremlin’s hardline demands.

Those include major territorial concessions from Ukraine over land in its east and a cap on the size of Ukraine's military.

As the Russian leader speaks, new photos of the aftermath of a Russian drone attack show a fire damaged vehicle and a petrol station set ablaze in Druzhkivka in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine.

Police officers scan the sky for a Russian FPV drone that can be heard flying overhead, in Druzhkivka. Diego Herrera Carcedo / Anadolu via Getty Images

A policeman runs from the scene after a Russian FPV drone crashes into a vehicle in Druzhkivka. Diego Herrera Carcedo / Anadolu via Getty Images

Emergency service workers arrive at a petrol station on fire after a russian attack with an FPV drone in Druzhkivka. Diego Herrera Carcedo / Anadolu via Getty Images

My question to President Putin elicited an angry response, but it also illuminated the Russian leader's negotiating strategy.

Suggesting he might reject President Trump’s peace deal was "inappropriate," he told me. Putin is determined not to be accused of blocking Trump’s push for peace but he is equally intent on not agreeing to any deal that does not meet his demands.

"We do not consider ourselves responsible for the loss of life, because it was not us who started this war," he told me. This is something he truly believes, blaming the war on NATO and Ukraine’s pro-Western color revolution.

But he also said repeatedly that he does believe he is "making compromises."

Vladimir Putin has told NBC News' Keir Simmons that “the ball is entirely in the court" of Ukraine and the West in peace talks as he praised President Trump's "serious" and "sincere" efforts to end the war.

Putin tells NBC News the ball is in Ukraine’s court to end the war

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Putin was asked whether, given Kyiv has agreed to enormous compromises, he would be responsible for the deaths of Russians and Ukrainians next year if there is no deal.

The Russian leader said no. "We do not consider ourselves responsible for the loss of life, because it was not us who started this war," he said in response to NBC News during his news conference.

"At the meeting with President Trump in Anchorage, we coordinated our positions and almost agreed with President Trump’s proposals," Putin said, referring to the duo's summit in Alaska.

"Therefore, to say that we are rejecting anything is absolutely incorrect and has no basis whatsoever. At the preliminary meetings in Moscow, proposals were made to us and we were asked to agree to certain compromises. When I arrived in Anchorage, I said that these would not be easy decisions for us, but that we agree to the compromises being proposed. Therefore, to claim that we are rejecting something is completely incorrect and has no grounds," Putin said.

He added: "The issue lies entirely on the other side, the ball is entirely in the court of our so-called Western adversaries, first and foremost the leaders of the Kyiv regime and, in this case especially, their European sponsors. We are ready for negotiations and to settle the conflict by peaceful means."

Several of the questions raised during Putin’s event come via prerecorded video messages, many focused on problems faced by Russian soldiers and their families.

One describes a wounded serviceman whose contract payments have not been fully delivered. Another comes from the mother of a fallen soldier who says she struggled to receive her son’s medal for heroism.

From Novosibirsk, a widow of a soldier killed in 2024 appears in a video message, saying she is left raising two young children, ages 6 and 4, and has not received a survivor’s pension. Putin responds that her case is now “under control,” offering a personal apology and asking her forgiveness for the delay. He says the issue will be resolved quickly, while acknowledging broader systemic problems in caring for families of fallen soldiers.

Putin points to excessive bureaucracy and coordination failures between social services and the Ministry of Defense, saying those gaps must be fixed. He also addresses questions about soldiers listed as missing in action and delays in payments and benefits for participants in what Moscow calls its “special military operation,” ordering officials to resolve outstanding cases.

Other questions range widely, from shortages of drones on the front lines to the rise of telephone scams across Russia.

The Russian president criticized shelved plans by leaders of the European Union to seize frozen Russian assets, describing the move as “robbery.”

Putin on stage at the conference in Moscow today. Alexander Nemenov / AFP via Getty Images

Overnight, E.U. leaders agreed to provide a massive interest-free loan to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years. But they dropped the plan to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s war effort, a proposal that had fueled internal divisions and drawn strong pushback from the Kremlin.

Putin said that this plan was unsuccessful because of its future implications on European countries.

“But why can’t this robbery be carried out? Because the consequences for the robbers can be severe,” he said, adding that other countries holding reserves in the European Union already have “suspicions, doubts and concerns.”

Putin said Russia would challenge any seizure in court, adding that assets taken in this way would ultimately have to be returned.

The Russian leader struck a tone of economic optimism during his remarks, seeking to project confidence despite ongoing challenges fueled by Western sanctions and the effects of his war in Ukraine.

Responding to a Russian journalist’s question that highlighted the impact of Western sanctions and tough economic conditions in Russia, Putin acknowledged that sanctions caused some "difficulties" for the country, but said that Russia was still able to complete projects in the manufacturing industry.

The Russian president also expressed hope about the return of "talented" Russian scientists and young specialists, saying they were coming back to Russia from abroad because of what he described as "better opportunities."

As Russia has pushed to make gains in its war effort, the city of Kupyansk in Kharkiv Oblast has emerged as one sticking point.

Putin said this morning that Russian troops control the city but are not yet moving further West. Russia first claimed on November 20 that it had taken control of the city, which Ukraine denied.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy records a video at the entrance of a road in Kupyansk, Ukraine, last week. Press Service of the President of Ukraine / via AP

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Kupyansk last week, with his office releasing a video showing the Ukrainian flag flying there. “The Russians kept going on about Kupyansk — the reality speaks for itself,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X on Friday.

Putin said that the video could be fake, without providing any evidence to support his claim. The Ukrainian president is "an artist, and a talented one at that," he said, adding that the monument where the video was recorded was only at the city limits. "Why stand there on the doorstep? Come inside!," he taunted.

As Putin delivered a detailed summary of what he describes as Russia’s successful offensive in Ukraine, two large screens inside the hall scrolled a steady stream of questions from across the country, reportedly around three million submissions from the Russian public.

Roughly 700 journalists are inside the hall. Some wear national or regional costumes — part tradition, part strategy to stand out in the packed room.

Putin during his annual end-of-year press conference in Moscow today. Alexander Nemenov / AFP via Getty Images

The questions on the screens span everyday grievances and big-picture ambitions: complaints about garbage collection and rats in provincial towns, queries about pensions, taxes and boosting Russia’s birth rate, questions about flying to Mars and blocked messaging apps. They also cover broader political issues, including whether agreements with the West are possible if, as one question puts it, “the West is not agreeable.”

Organizers say all issues raised during the event will be reviewed and addressed.

The Russian leader has begun his annual year-end news conference, opening with a run through familiar talking points on Ukraine.

Putin takes to stage at the annual conference in Moscow today. Alexander Nemenov / AFP via Getty Images

He briefly touched on the prospect of peace talks, reiterating that Russia is ready to "end this conflict via peaceful means." He reiterated baseless claims about how the war began and said he did not think Ukraine was ready to agree to a deal.

He then moved on to claims that Russian forces are advancing along the front lines, which Ukraine denies, and providing updates on the military situation.

Trump’s Christmas deadline for a peace deal with Ukraine is looking increasingly unlikely.

His Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin made it clear the war will grind on unless his demands are met in the ceasefire negotiations.

Russia will “undoubtedly” reach its war goals, he said at his annual meeting with top military officers on Wednesday, where he also referred to European leaders as pigs, or swine.

Moscow would prefer to achieve its goals and “eliminate the root causes of the conflict” by diplomatic means, he said. But he made it clear that “Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means.” if diplomacy fails.

Russia’s red lines, according to officials in Moscow, include exactly the sort of security guarantees for Ukraine that the U.S. and Europe have been discussing in recent weeks.

Putin’s year-end news conference is set for 4 a.m., although it has frequently run behind schedule in previous years.

The conference and the Kremlin’s ‘Direct Line’ call-in show are being held together this year, meaning that in addition to taking questions from journalists, the Russian president will also answer questions from members of the public.

As of now, over 2 million questions have been submitted from Russian citizens. They usually cover subjects ranging from damaged roads to burst pipes, although he'll no doubt speak about the war in Ukraine and Trump's efforts to secure a peace deal, too.

Long before Putin takes the stage for his annual end-of-year news conference, the waiting begins outside.

Hundreds of journalists from across Russia and around the world line up for security checks to enter Gostiny Dvor, a vast exhibition complex just steps from the Kremlin and Red Square. Organizers say more than 700 media representatives are expected inside, adding to the long, slow-moving line outside.

A billboard in Moscow promotes Russian President Putin's annual year-end televised phone-in and press conference. Ramil Sitdikov / Reuters

The process is deliberate. The line moves at a crawl along Varvarka Street, one of Moscow’s oldest thoroughfares.

On one side of the narrow street, small historic Russian churches rise close to the pavement, their golden domes catching the winter light. Church bells ring, their sound cutting through the low murmur of the crowd. Christmas lights glow above, strung along the streetlamps, incongruous against the heavy security presence that dominates the scene.

Patience is a necessity here.

Speaking at an annual meeting with top military officers on Wednesday, the Russian leader appeared in little mood to make concessions to help secure a peace deal.

"Everyone thought that in a short amount of time they could destroy Russia," Putin said. "And the European swine immediately joined the work of the previous American administration in the hope of profiting from the collapse of our country."

Putin calls European politicians ‘little pigs’ who want to bring Russia down

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While the Trump administration has demonstrated readiness for a peaceful resolution, he said it was "unlikely that this will be possible with the current political elites" in Europe.

Putin's end-of-year televised news conferences are notorious for their length, with the broadcast carrying a ticker noting how long he has been speaking.

In 2024, the event lasted 4 hours and 31 minutes as Putin brushed off concerns about the Russian economy and claimed that Russia was poised to make gains in Ukraine.

He fielded questions from journalists and the public on everything from Russia's slow internet speeds to the fall of Russian ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

The 2024 event was one of his longest ever press conferences, although it did not quite surpass his all-time record, set in 2013 when he spoke for 4 hours and 47 minutes.