Russian President Vladimir Putin would likely speak to the public amid a series of army defeats in Ukraine, according to reports.
The Russian leader may not hold his big annual press conference next month, an event that has been held in December since 2012, two anonymous Kremlin briefs told local business newspaper RBC.
The usual arrangements for Putin’s annual press convention in December, as well as Putin’s annual question-and-answer session, Direct Line to Vladimir Putin, “are still underway,” the appeals said.
A source quoted as saying a final ruling on the factor would take into account the scenario on the front line in Ukraine.
“The scenario will be taken into account in the army’s special operation, among others,” the source said.
In August, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that in December, Putin’s annual press conference could be combined with the question-and-answer session, Direct Line to Vladimir Putin, as happened two years ago with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Peskov said Friday that no resolution had yet been made to hold the event.
This comes as Putin faces a series of humiliating defeats in his war against Ukraine, which began in February.
On November 9, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu authorized a commander to withdraw his troops from the town of Kherson.
Sergey Surovikin, who in October was the new head of Russian forces in Ukraine, said last week that his troops would withdraw to the Dnieper to “preserve the lives of our infantrymen and the combat skill of the troop group. “
Russia’s withdrawal from Kherson last week marked the third major withdrawal of Putin’s troops since the war began on Feb. 24.
Kherson had been occupied by Russian forces since March, days after the war began.
During a visit to Kherson on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked his allies and the United States and said HIMARS weapons provided through the United States had made a big difference.
Zelensky also told the G20 summit in Bali via video link on Tuesday that he believes Putin’s war can “now be stopped,” while outlining a path to peace.
Among other measures, Zelensky said Russia will have to settle for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, withdraw its troops from its country and pay for the damage caused by the invasion.
The Kremlin insisted Monday that Kherson remains part of Russia.
Newsweek has reached out to Russia’s Foreign Ministry for comment.
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