Putin Reflects on Ukraine Invasion Timing in End-of-Year Address

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that, in hindsight, Russia should have initiated its full-scale invasion of Ukraine earlier and with greater preparation. Speaking during a televised year-end press marathon on Thursday, Putin reflected on what he called “systemic preparation” for the 2022 offensive, which he continues to describe as a “special military operation.”

The broadcast, titled “Results of the Year with Vladimir Putin,” aired live across Russian state TV channels. Putin addressed a range of topics, including Russia’s nuclear policy, domestic economic concerns, and Syria’s political upheaval. He appeared before a large blue screen depicting a map of the Russian Federation that included annexed Ukrainian territories.

Reflecting on Russia’s actions in Ukraine, Putin suggested the timeline of the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the subsequent conflict in eastern Ukraine could have led to earlier decisive action. However, it was eight years later, in 2022, that Moscow launched its attempt to seize Kyiv.

The event included questions from members of the public, foreign journalists, and Russian pensioners, though it remained a highly controlled and choreographed affair. Putin asserted that Russia had reclaimed its “sovereignty,” stating, “We were heading towards a complete, total loss of our sovereignty before.”

On Syria, Putin downplayed the significance of President Bashar al-Assad’s recent ousting, despite years of Kremlin support for Assad’s regime. He described the situation as “complicated” but denied it constituted a defeat for Russian interests. While he has yet to speak with Assad, who reportedly fled to Moscow, Putin noted that Russia is negotiating with Syria’s new leadership to maintain access to two strategic military bases on the Mediterranean coast, potentially for humanitarian purposes.

Throughout the four-hour broadcast, Putin also touched on domestic concerns, addressing questions about rising living costs, including the price of butter, which resonated with the public amid growing economic pressures.