A real, carefully choreographed television show. Like every year for almost a quarter of a century, Vladimir Putin will be able to take stock of the year this Thursday and provide answers to the grievances of his population in front of an audience of journalists, including Western ones.
According to Russian news agencies, public television channels have planned three to four hours of air time for this program which is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. Moscow time (9 a.m. GMT).
This year again, there is no shortage of questions. Before Putin’s performance, nearly 1.6 million questions were submitted, according to a count taken on Wednesday, according to the Ria Novosti agency.
Obviously, the Russian president is not going to answer everyone but he is expected on many subjects, including those that are angry such as the war in Ukraine, Russia’s failure in Syria or even the country’s economy which is suffering. more and more.
The president’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, indicated that Vladimir Putin had prepared throughout Tuesday and Wednesday for this exercise, during which all kinds of subjects will be discussed, whether geopolitics, repression in the country, local infrastructure problems or the daily lives of Russians.
Climbing in Ukraine
Three years after the start of the Russian assault on Ukraine, the Russian president should be confident. Its troops have gained the upper hand on the front where they are advancing at a pace not seen since the first months of 2022.
The Russian army thus brought down the Ukrainian fortresses of Avdiïvka in February and Vougledar in October and is today at the gates of several cities of military importance such as Pokrovsk, Kurakhové and Koupiansk.
The only downside is the surprise Ukrainian offensive in the Russian border region of Kursk, where kyiv’s forces still control hundreds of square kilometers despite attempts by Russian troops, supported according to kyiv by North Korean soldiers, to dislodge them. .
Vladimir Putin is also expected to comment on the strikes carried out by Ukraine on Russian territory using American and British long-range missiles which are red lines for him. In response, Russia responded by firing an experimental hypersonic missile, the Orechnik, at a Ukrainian town, raising the specter of nuclear weapons.
Finally, he should also comment on recent calls from US President-elect Donald Trump to quickly conclude a ceasefire in Ukraine.
The failure in Syria
Another international subject of importance for Russia, Vladimir Putin may have to comment for the first time on the fall of his Syrian ally, Bashar al-Assad, driven from power by a lightning offensive by rebels led by radical Islamists. A defeat for Moscow’s geopolitical ambitions. The fate of the two Russian military bases in Syria, crucial for Russian operations in the Mediterranean, is particularly in question. A subject of embarrassment for the Russian president, who had committed his forces to Syria in 2015 in support of the deposed Syrian president.
A faltering economy
On the domestic front, beyond the usual local issues on the lack of schools, the renovation of hospitals or new technologies, the Russian president should be questioned on the state of the economy under pressure because of the cost of the conflict Ukrainian and Western sanctions.
After having resisted for the last three years, it is now showing signs of running out of steam. In the latest setback, inflation accelerated to 8.9% in November, remaining deaf to the efforts of the Central Bank of Russia (BCR) which in October raised its key rate to 21%, unheard of since 2003. to try to change it. Consequence for Russians, the increase in everyday products. Thus, the price of butter has increased by 34% since January. Inflation which is also favored by the budgetary policy of the Russian state, which spends lavishly to support its war effort (+ 67.5% budgeted in 2025 compared to 2021)
Another consequence is the shortage of employees in companies. In addition to the demographic crisis for years, the departure of hundreds of thousands of men to the front has deprived many companies of workers. Especially since the military industry tends to capture those who remain to increase the rate of arms production.
Under these conditions, the Russian Central Bank anticipates a pronounced deceleration in GDP growth in 2025, expected between 0.5 and 1.5%, compared to more than 3.5% forecast for the end of the year.
At the same time, in recent weeks, the Russian currency has weakened, a consequence of recent American sanctions targeting Gazprombank, which until now managed all payments from foreign customers purchasing Russian gas. The Russian currency has been at its lowest level against the dollar and the euro since March 2022, which is also a threat to the purchasing power of Russians.
Faced with this situation, Vladimir Putin has already said he is calm. The country’s budget deficit is low. Furthermore, it is counting on the massive arrival of Chinese investors to replace Westerners.
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