Russian President Vladimir Putin held a four-hour news conference on Thursday, attempting to shift blame for recent setbacks at home and in the Middle East. Despite facing criticism over his handling of Syria, where Russian ally Bashar al-Assad was ousted this month, Putin claimed that Iran’s failure to resist a rebel offensive was the primary cause of the collapse.
Putin also acknowledged Russia’s security services as responsible for the “gravest of blunders” in failing to stop an assassination attempt on a Russian general in Moscow. He took a rare moment to criticize his central bank, saying it could have acted more quickly to address inflation, but argued that rising prices are actually an indicator of people’s improved economic well-being.
The news conference was seen as a familiar combination of misdirection and self-confidence from Putin, who sought to portray Russia as firmly in control of its fate. However, analysts argue that Putin’s stance on Syria has suffered significantly with the loss of key military bases, which were crucial for projecting Russian influence across the Mediterranean and Africa.
Putin expressed willingness to talk to US President-elect Donald Trump, promising swift negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, but maintained that he is seeking a broad peace deal rather than a temporary cease-fire. The event was part of Putin’s annual ritual, where he addresses world affairs and concerns of ordinary Russians, often comparing himself favorably to Western leaders.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/world/europe/putin-press-conference-syria.html