MOSCOW, Dec 31 (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin used his annual televised New Yr’s deal with to rally his troops preventing in Ukraine, saying he believed in them and in victory in a conflict that he has framed as a part of an existential wrestle with the West.
U.S. President Donald Trump is making an attempt to dealer an finish to the almost four-year-old battle, Europe’s bloodiest conflagration since World Struggle Two, with either side’ negotiating stances nonetheless far aside.
Wearing a black coat, Putin – whose forces are advancing slowly however steadily in Ukraine – spoke about Russia’s future and the unity of its individuals, which he stated assured the sovereignty and safety of the “Fatherland”.
MIKHAIL METZEL by way of Getty Pictures
He paid tribute particularly to his forces preventing in Ukraine, calling them heroes.
“Tens of millions of individuals throughout Russia — I guarantee you — are with you on this New Yr’s Eve,” stated Putin.
“They’re pondering of you, empathising with you, hoping for you. I want all our troopers and commanders a contented coming New Yr! We imagine in you and our Victory!”
His speech, which was first broadcast in Russia’s far east, got here as Russia launched video footage of what it stated was a downed drone, presenting it as proof that Ukraine had tried this week to assault a presidential residence. Kyiv has dismissed Russia’s allegation as a lie designed to derail peace talks.
In one other video launched on Wednesday, Russia’s prime normal informed troops to maintain carving out buffer zones in Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkiv areas and stated Moscow’s forces had superior quicker in December than in another month in 2025.
Reuters couldn’t confirm his battlefield assertion.
(Reporting by Reuters Writing by Andrew Osborn Enhancing by Kevin Liffey)
