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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.
In a significant development, Russia and Ukraine have exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war in a deal mediated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This marks the 59th and one of the largest prisoner swaps since the conflict escalated in February 2022.
The Russian defense ministry reported that 150 Ukrainian soldiers were exchanged for an equal number of Russian troops. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that 189 Ukrainians had returned home, including defenders of key sites such as Azovstal, Mariupol, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and Snake Island.
Among the Ukrainians released were soldiers, border guards, National Guardsmen, and Navy personnel, many of whom had endured over two-and-a-half years in captivity. Some returned with severe injuries and illnesses.
On the Russian side, the defense ministry stated that the released soldiers had been transported to Belarus, where they received medical attention and contacted their families.
In northern Ukraine, families braved the harsh winter cold outside hospitals, awaiting the return of their loved ones.
Photos shared by Zelensky on social media showed the released Ukrainian soldiers holding yellow-and-blue flags, a symbol of hope amid ongoing turmoil.
While this swap has brought relief to many families, thousands of Ukrainians remain in captivity in Russia and Russian-occupied territories. Ukrainian officials estimate that over 8,000 of their citizens are still held as prisoners of war.
Negotiations for further exchanges have become increasingly challenging as Russian forces gain ground on the battlefield. Despite the obstacles, Zelensky reaffirmed his commitment: “We are working to free everyone from Russian captivity. This is our goal. We do not forget anyone.”
South Korea has voted to impeach its acting president Han Duck-soo, deepening the country’s political turmoil just two weeks after President Yoon Suk Yeol was similarly impeached.
The impeachment motion against Han passed with 192 votes, surpassing the 151 required. Han had stepped into the role following Yoon’s impeachment on December 3, after Yoon’s controversial attempt to impose martial law.
Opposition lawmakers accused Han of obstructing efforts to finalize Yoon’s impeachment process. Key among their grievances was Han’s decision to block the appointment of three parliamentary-nominated judges intended to oversee Yoon’s case. With the Constitutional Court currently comprising only six judges instead of the usual nine, opposition parties hoped the additional judges would increase the likelihood of upholding Yoon’s impeachment.
For Yoon’s impeachment to stand, at least six of the court’s judges must support it. However, the current six-member bench means a single dissenting vote could prevent his removal.
Han’s impeachment marks the first time an acting president has been impeached since South Korea’s transition to democracy. Upon notification from parliament, Han will be officially suspended from his duties. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is expected to step in as acting president.
As with Yoon, Han’s impeachment must be confirmed by the Constitutional Court, which has 180 days to make a ruling. Han expressed his respect for the assembly’s decision, stating, “I will wait for the Constitutional Court’s decision” and promising to step back from his duties to avoid exacerbating the nation’s political uncertainty.
Azerbaijan Airlines has attributed the deadly crash of its Embraer jet in Kazakhstan on December 25 to “physical and technical external interference,” according to preliminary investigations. The crash claimed 38 lives and left 29 survivors when the plane went down just 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) short of the runway at Aktau airport, engulfed in flames.
The ill-fated flight initially attempted to land at Grozny airport in southern Russia but was diverted across the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan due to adverse conditions. Witnesses near Grozny reported an explosion before the plane’s diversion.
Russia’s civil aviation agency chief, Dmitry Yadrov, stated on Friday that Grozny was under a “very complicated” situation. He cited ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks targeting civilian infrastructure in Grozny and Vladikavkaz, prompting the implementation of a closed-skies protocol, known as the “Carpet plan.” The region also experienced dense fog, complicating aviation operations further.
Azerbaijan Airlines has refrained from explicitly accusing Russia of involvement, likely to avoid diplomatic tensions. However, aviation experts and Azerbaijani media suggest the crash may have been caused by shrapnel from a Russian air-defense missile explosion.
“Missile fragments could have damaged the plane’s hydraulic system, which is critical for control,” explained Tahir Agaguliev, a veteran Azerbaijani pilot, in a local media interview.
Survivors of the crash have supported claims of external interference. Flight attendant Zulfuqar Asadov described the moments of impact, recalling, “The plane was hit by some kind of external strike, causing panic among passengers. While we were trying to calm them, another strike occurred, injuring my arm.”
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