LIVE UPDATES: Putin Holds Year-End Press Conference and Q&A Session

"I am an open person with democratic views," Putin told a New York Times reporter when she thanked him for the opportunity to be present at his end-of-year press conference and call-in session, adding that Western correspondents had not been able to take part in such events for almost a year.

The president added that it is necessary to believe in the “great Russian nation.”

"This [severity] means an understanding in our society of what is worth which price and how society assesses those deeds; this does not mean we must stick to it and never change anything. I agree with you on this and will ask lawmakers, the State Duma, to assess all of this once again and respond accordingly," Putin said.

"[If Moldova] wants to follow the example of Germany, which now receives energy supplies from the United States for a price 30% higher than before from the Russian Federation, please, they have extra money, let them do so," Putin said.

At the same time, the president said that something had been achieved in this process.

Putin also expressed the hope that the absence of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan from general events wasdue to some processes in Armenia, and not to a reluctance to continue working together.

It is impossible to prevent the development of AI, and everything must be done to be leaders in this direction, but how it will end is unknown, he added.

The gradual increase in life expectancy, which is "the most important social indicator," reflects efforts made by the Russian government both in the economy and social policy, the president added.

"We do not shy away from these contacts, but if European countries and the French president in particular do not want to communicate with us, [then] that is a no, as we say. If there is interest, we are ready," Putin said.

"We see attempts by the West to shift NATO's activities towards Asia, which clearly go beyond the scope of the statutory goals of this organization — the North Atlantic bloc. It is called the North Atlantic bloc, what should it do in Asia? No, they are heading to Asia. They provoke there, heat up the situation, create new military-political blocs with different compositions," Putin told a press conference.