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LIVE UPDATES: Our Troops Liberate Square Kilometers of Territory Every Day - Putin

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On December 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a major press conference to address a number of issues of concern to the Russian public. This year, the press conference coincided with the President's live question-and-answer session, Direct Line with Vladimir Putin. More than two million questions have been submitted for the Q&A session.

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LIVE UPDATES: Our Troops Liberate Square Kilometers of Territory Every Day - Putin

09:08 GMT 19.12.2024 (Updated: 12:01 GMT 19.12.2024)

The annual Direct Line event and the year-end press conference are longstanding traditions, both of which have been hosted by the Kremlin since 2001. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, this format is beneficial as it enables him to address issues that require particular attention.

On December 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to hold a major press conference to tackle various issues pertinent to the Russian public. This year, the press conference coincides with his live question-and-answer session, "Direct Line with Vladimir Putin." Over two million questions have been submitted for this interactive event.

In the run-up to the "Direct Line with President Vladimir Putin", the call center for the "Results of the Year with Vladimir Putin" program received a whopping 1,608,940 calls.

The most pressing issues that Russians addressed to the "Results of the Year with Vladimir Putin" program were housing, medical care, transportation accessibility, and the condition of roads. The Central Federal District, Northwestern Federal District, and Southern Federal District were the regions that contacted the call center most frequently.

Follow Sputnik’s live feed to learn more!

Table of contents

New firstOld first

14:24 GMT 19.12.2024

Putin Won't Be Fully Satisfied Until Russian Soldiers Return Home from the Frontlines

14:23 GMT 19.12.2024

Putin: Not Only Did I Protect Russia, We Are No Longer On The Edge of The Abyss’

14:05 GMT 19.12.2024

In this file photo taken from a video distributed by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, a rocket launches from missile system as part of a ground-based intercontinental ballistic missile test launched from the Plesetsk facility in northwestern Russia - Sputnik International, 1920, 19.12.2024

Analysis

Russia’s Invincible Oreshnik Has Left West in The Dust - Ex-DoD Analyst

19 December 2024, 13:21 GMT

13:44 GMT 19.12.2024

Energy Needs for Global Economy Up, Russia to Increase Share in Global LNG Market - Putin

Energy needs for global economy are growing, Russia will increase its share in the global LNG market, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"The need for energy resources from the point of view of the development of the global economy, they still continue [to grow], the need is growing, it will grow, this is not our data, this is data from global economic institutions. And this product will simply be in demand on global markets, we will continue to do this, and we will increase our share on global LNG markets," Putin said.

The president also reminded that Ukraine refused to extend the gas transit contract, saying that this is not Russia's problem.

"This contract will not happen, everything is clear now ... we will survive, Gazprom will survive this," Putin added.

13:43 GMT 19.12.2024

Russian Forces Advancing Forward, Ukrainian Units Unable to Secure Positions - Putin

The Russian armed forces are advancing forward, while the armed forces of Ukraine are unable to secure positions where they are retreating, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"Our military is moving forward. And the enemy cannot secure those positions to which they have withdrawn today, right at this minute They withdrew in an organized manner, but they can't get a foothold there, our guys go forward again tomorrow, and so on and on and on," Putin said.

There is an "exhaustion" of Ukrainian forces and military equipment, Putin added.

"Some battalions of the Ukrainian military have 35-40% of the personnel," Putin said, adding that the authorities are going after Ukrainians "like stray dogs" and throwing them into battlefields.

The Russian soldiers see on the battlefield that the Ukrainian military lacks training, the president added.

13:36 GMT 19.12.2024

Sanctions Create Problems for Russia, But They Will Not Be Able to 'Kill' It - Putin

Sanctions create problems for Russia, but they will not "kill" it, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"Do they [sanctions] hinder us or not? They do. Do they create problems? They do. Will they be able to shut it all down and kill us completely? No, they will not. They will cause us some damage and harm, but we will certainly get out of this situation, just as we will get out of other situations involving energy supplies," Putin said.

Western countries are afraid of competition, that is why they impose sanctions against Russia, Putin said, adding that he does not count the sanctions that are being imposed against Russia.

13:32 GMT 19.12.2024

‘We Don't Need Any Ceasefire; We Need Lasting Peace,’ Says Putin

Putin emphasizes that the Russian Armed Forces must continue their advance, preventing the Ukrainian army from having the opportunity to prepare. He argues that any ceasefire would allow Ukraine the time needed to regroup effectively.

13:23 GMT 19.12.2024

Ukraine Can Only Exist With Support of Western Partners - Putin

Ukraine can only exist with the support of its Western partners, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"It [Ukraine] can exist only with support from the West, not just fight — exist," Putin said.

13:20 GMT 19.12.2024

Putin Says Biden Not to Be Blamed for Pardoning His Son

Outgoing US President Joe Biden turned out to be more human, than politician, when he decided to pardon his son Hunter Biden, and should not be blamed for it, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

“He [Biden] is a politician. And it is always important what is more in you: a politician or a human. It turned out that Biden is more human, I would not blame him for that,” Putin said.

13:13 GMT 19.12.2024

Putin: Decision Made in February 2022 Should Have Been Reached Sooner

Russia should have made the decision to launch the special military operation earlier, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"If I could look at the situation in 2022, knowing what is happening now, I would have thought that the decision that was made in early 2022 should have been made earlier. That's the first thing. And second, knowing this, we should have just started preparing for these events, including for the special military operation," Putin said.

The decision to launch the special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022 was forced on Russia, Putin said.

The last two years since the start of the special military operation have been a serious test for the entire country, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"But these three years, of course, more than two, of course, they were a serious test for all of us, for the whole country and for me," Putin said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that over the past 2.5 years he has started to joke and laugh less.

"I started joking less and almost stopped laughing," Putin said at the annual "Direct Line" question-and-answer session combined with his end-of-year press conference, answering a question about how he has changed over the past 2.5 years during the special military operation.

12:55 GMT 19.12.2024

Putin Says Need to Think About Regions That Will Be Threatened by Melting of Permafrost

Russia and the world need to think about population of regions that will be threatened by melting of permafrost, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"If it [permafrost] melts, then the coastal regions of Russia, they may also be under threat. Firstly, we have entire villages, cities on stilts, which are driven into the permafrost. There is already something cracking. That is what we have to think about. And our coastal cities, including even St. Petersburg? Do you understand? We have built a dam, which we have dreamed of since the time of Peter the Great, but we must think about what will happen next with coastal cities," Putin said.

12:52 GMT 19.12.2024

Putin Hopes Russian Central Bank's Decision on Key Rate Will Be Weighted, Meet Realities

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed hope on Thursday that the Russian Central Bank's upcoming decision on the key rate would be weighted and correspond to today's realities.

The Bank of Russia's Board of Directors will hold its last meeting of the year on the key rate on December 20.

"I hope that it [the Central Bank's decision on the key rate] will be weighted and correspond to today's realities," Putin said.

Putin added that Central Bank head Elvira Nabiullina had not revealed to him the regulator's upcoming decision on the key rate.

"She doesn't tell me what the rate will be. She herself probably doesn't know yet, because they discuss it at the board of directors, in their 'Komsomol cell,' and make the final decision in the course of the discussion," the president explained.

12:44 GMT 19.12.2024

Putin Says Russia Feels Certain Sympathy From Italian Society

Russia feels certain sympathy from Italian society, and the feeling is mutual, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"Even despite what is happening today, we feel that in Italian society there is a certain sympathy for Russia, just as we have a certain sympathy for Italy," Putin said.

12:43 GMT 19.12.2024

Putin Calls Agriculture One of Key Industries in Russia

Agriculture is one of the key industries in Russia and it is developing, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"Agriculture is one of the key sectors of Russia's economy. I have already said that it is developing at a good pace: 3% per year. We cannot but be pleased with what is happening in agriculture," Putin said.

Russia will harvest 130 million tonnes of grain this year, the president said.

"We are among the three largest exporters to the food market, and we occupy first place in the world in terms of wheat," Putin said, adding that Russia has a great export potential in agriculture.

12:22 GMT 19.12.2024

Putin on YouTube Slowdown: Probably More Questions on Platform's Side Than on Russia's

There are probably more questions on the side of the YouTube video hosting service than on Russia's, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, commenting on the platform's slowdown.

"Regarding YouTube's slowdown, there are probably more questions on YouTube's side than on our side," Putin said.

YouTube violated the laws of Russia, in connection with which Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor presented the company with justified claims, the president said.

Commenting on the situation with US tech giant Google, Putin said that the company created problems for itself to work in Russia, noting that the company and YouTube, in particular, must comply with Russia's laws.

Google must choose for itself whether to comply with laws for working in Russia, the president said.

12:17 GMT 19.12.2024

Putin Says in Constant Contact With Erdogan

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he was in constant contact with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, adding that they discussed the situation in the Middle East during their last conversation.

"We are in constant contact with President Erdogan, I don't remember when we last spoke, but we certainly discussed the situation in the region, in the Middle East," Putin said.

12:16 GMT 19.12.2024

Putin Says Special Services Failed to Prevent Assassination of General Kirillov

The Russian special services have failed to prevent the assassination of General Kirillov, so the country needs to improve their work and prevent such cases, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"Unfortunately, this assassination attempt [on Kirillov] is not an isolated case, and not only on military personnel… There was an attempt on journalists and an attempt on public figures. It is enough to recall only the murder of [Daria] Dugina. These are signs of the terrorist nature of the regime in Kiev. But this, of course. It means that our relevant law enforcement and special services overlooked these attack. They missed these cases," Putin said.

12:13 GMT 19.12.2024

Absence of Palestinian State At Core of Mideast Problem - Putin

Russia remains committed to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"Our position is well-known, both on Lebanon and on Palestine. Our position is not affected by current events. We have always believed and continue to believe that the Palestinian problem can only be solved by addressing its root cause. The UN Security Council once agreed that two states - Israel and Palestine - should be established. Israel has been created, while Palestine has in fact not been created yet. That's the whole problem," Putin said.

The Russian president said that he was unaware of Israel’s ultimate goals in the Gaza Strip, but stressed that its action deserved condemnation.

12:10 GMT 19.12.2024

Israel Turns Out to be Key Winner From Syrian Crisis, Says Putin

Russia condemns the seizure of any Syrian territories by Israel, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"One can treat what Israel is doing as you like. Russia condemns the seizure of any Syrian territories. This is obvious, our position here is not subject to any adjustment. But Israel is also solving security-related issues for itself," Putin said.

Russia hopes that Israel will withdraw from the territory of Syria one day, but now it is transporting troops there, and looks like strengthening positions, Putin said.

"After all, the main beneficiary of the ongoing events in Syria... The main beneficiary, in my opinion, is Israel," Putin added.

In addition, Putin called for solving the Kurdish problem with the authorities that control the territory of Syria.

11:59 GMT 19.12.2024

Putin Points to [Daria] Dugina's Murder and Assaults on Reporters as Evidence of Kiev Regime's Terrorist Agenda