MOSCOW (AP) — Russian PresidentVladimir Putinsaid Friday that Moscow's troops were advancing across the battlefield in Ukraine, voicing confidence that the Kremlin's military goals would be achieved.
Speaking at his highly orchestrated year-end news conference, Putin declared that Russian forces have "fully seized strategic initiative" and would make more gains by the year's end.
Russia's larger, better-equipped army has made slow but steady progress in Ukraine in recent months.
The annuallive news conferenceis combined with a nationwide call-in show that offers Russians across the country the opportunity to ask questions of Putin, who has led the country for 25 years. Putin has used it to cement his power and air his views on domestic and global affairs.
This year, observers are watching for Putin's remarks on Ukraine and the U.S.-backedpeace planthere.
U.S. President Donald Trump has unleashed an extensivediplomatic pushto end nearly four years of fighting after Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, but Washington's efforts have run into sharplyconflicting demandsby Moscow and Kyiv.
Putin reaffirmed that Moscow was ready for a peaceful settlement that would address the "root causes" of the conflict, a reference to the Kremlin's tough conditions for a deal.
Earlier this week, Putin warned this week that Moscow would seek to extend its gains in Ukraine if Kyiv and its Western allies reject theKremlin's demands.
The Russian leader wants all the areas in four key regions captured by his forces, as well as the Crimean Peninsula, which was illegally annexed in 2014, to be recognized as Russian territory. He also has insisted that Ukraine withdraw from some areas in eastern Ukraine that Moscow's forces haven't captured yet — demands Kyiv has rejected.
