On Friday noon, Russian President Vladimir Putin began the traditional “summary” of the past year. The annual conference is combined with the so-called “dialogue” with compatriots. A day earlier, accredited journalists had to undergo tests for Covid and flu, the propaganda agency RIA Novosti reported.
Vladimir Putin arrived at the Guest Manor in the center of Moscow a little late. The annual conference, scheduled for 12 p.m., started at 12.12 local time (10.12 in Poland).
A day earlier, journalists accredited for this event had to undergo COVID and flu tests, the propaganda agency RIA Novosti reported.
Putin conference PAP/EPA
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Putin praises the Russian economy
The first question for the president was: “how does Russia manage to stay afloat and continue its development in conditions in which the world has either gone mad or is going mad?” Putin jokingly replied that “when it's quiet, we get bored.” A little later he stated that “in two years the Russian economy has grown by about eight percent.” IN USA – as the Russian leader stated – the increase was five percent, in euro zone – one percent.
Economic growth is largely the result of strengthening sovereignty, Putin said. He mentioned that “some producers left the Russian market, which resulted in our entrepreneurs starting to produce these goods themselves.”
The situation is changing dramatically
During the conference, a question was also asked about the situation on the Ukrainian front. Putin replied, “It is changing fundamentally, and progress is being made along the entire front line.” – Russian soldiers regain square kilometers of territory. Every day, Putin emphasized. – Russia is heading towards solving the basic tasks set at the beginning of the special military operation (the propaganda term of the armed invasion carried out in February 2022 – ed.) – he said.
He also said that “there is no doubt about the liberation of the Kursk region.” However, he did not provide any dates so as “not to put pressure on Russian soldiers.”
Question about Oreshnik
Putin asked about the Oreshnik (Leszczyna in Polish) medium-range ballistic missile The Russian army fired towards the city of Dnieper in east-central Ukrainesaid that “this is a new weapon that was created on the basis of Russian achievements.”
– There is no chance of easily shooting down or destroying the Oreshnik – said the Russian leader, and when asked where the name came from, he admitted that he “didn't know”.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA