On December 19, Vladimir Putin held his final annual press conference, and much of the focus was on Ukraine. The Kremlin leader answered numerous questions about geopolitics, sanctions, nuclear war, and other Russian issues. This year's press conference accredited 1,895 Russian and foreign journalists, including representatives of the illegal LPR and DPR. The press conference lasted for 4 hours and 25 minutes.
First of all, it’s worth noting that, speaking about Ukraine, Putin only spoke of the Donbas – not Crimea. A Crimean journalist briefly mentioned that Putin would open the railway part of the Crimean Bridge, and the conversation ended there. The propagandists from DPR and LPR were not given a word at all.
During the broadcast on a Russian YouTube channel "Russia 24", users have actively complained that both Putin and the reporters were merely waffling. In general, the event looked more like a badly staged, boring TV show rather than a business conversation.
Below are Putin's main statements.
Ukraine and the Donbas
Minsk Agreements and the Donbas situation
Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who represented Ukraine in Minsk, insisted that two unrecognized "republics" sign the documents. They just grabbed me by the throat. Moreover, representatives of the unrecognized "republics" refused to do so. We persuaded them. Thus, Ukraine itself admitted that such power exists.
An "election" was held there. This is a very democratic way of organizing the government. The Minsk agreements do not specify what they are entitled to claim. There is a point that talks about the withdrawal of mercenaries, foreign troops and the closure of the border. The closure should begin on the second day after the election is held, and it should end after a comprehensive political settlement, amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine and the rights that the agreements stipulate.
However, there are no foreign troops in the Donbas. There are local defense forces. Where did they get tanks and heavy artillery? Well, in many hot spots of the world, they somehow come up with it. Apparently, from the structures of supportive states. But that's their equipment, not foreign. There are mercenaries - French and German - fighting on both sides. However, they do not form most of the armed groups.
Russian "Grad" in Luhansk
I see no desire to address this issue in dialogue with people. With a blockade imposed, the territory was just cut off. Now there are changes for the better. Nevertheless, it is not enough.
And there's nothing but the Minsk agreements. I was very alarmed by Zelensky's statement after his departure from Paris - when he said it might be a good idea to revise them. If we start revising the Minsk agreements, the situation could reach a complete dead end. The law on the special status of Donbas is based on the Minsk agreements. Donbas should be given a permanent special status, which then should be implemented in the Constitution. However, it seems that neither former nor current leaders of Ukraine want to do it.
A direct dialogue with the Donbas is needed. But we have no dialogue now. New changes in the decentralization process. Okay. But it is done instead of the Minsk agreements or special status. However, according to the Minsk agreements, decentralization should also be agreed with the Donbas.
The next meeting will be held in case there are any changes. There are some changes. The law has been extended. The troops have been withdrawn. It's true that our partners somehow don't want to dispense the whole line. In my opinion, that's a mistake. On the other hand, there's been a decrease in the shelling.
Overall, there’s positive progress, but there are also worrisome things. It's a matter of discussion. That's why I think it's appropriate to work in the Normandy format.
Gas issues
As for gas, part of our reserve funds is invested in Ukrainian securities - it is exactly 3 billion dollars. There is a court decision in London, which is not executed.
And the verdict of the Stockholm Arbitration Court is political, not legal. However, we will preserve transit through Ukraine. The question concerns volumes and terms. We are not going to conclude (a contract) for a certain period of time to stop the transit later. This is a convenient route. It is longer than the Baltic Sea, but it is more convenient for shipments to Central and Eastern Europe.
In addition, we could supply gas with a discount. We will strive to make the Ukrainian side happy with these agreements. We are interested in Ukraine normally receiving the resource and European neighbors remaining calm.
We want to preserve the transit. If the West wants to help with this issue, it would be better to give money. But they do not give real money. They want Ukraine to replenish its budget at the Russian expense. They should give them a loan with a good interest. The IMF demands that gas privileges for the population be abolished – then, the tariffs will rise again. The EU demands that they start taking out the timber roundabout – then, there will be nothing left of the Carpathians.
Ukrainian field
They also demand to open the land market. However, the land is of sacred importance for Ukrainians - it is a golden land.
International relations in Russia
International relations are one of the most important issues. In the 1990s, there was a war in the Chechen Republic. People have preserved their historical memory when in the Soviet Union they were taken in cattle wagons to the steppes of Kazakhstan. We must not allow anything like that to happen.
We have an ongoing dispute with Ukraine. There is a Ukrainian identity. Its author was Count Pototsky - a famous researcher, scientist and writer, who first spoke about Ukrainians as a separate ethnos. Then there were other Polish studies that crossed Ukrainians out of the Slavs. They believed that Ukrainians were descendants of nomadic peoples. However, this is all nonsense. We should understand that at some stage there were elements of identity and should treat it with respect. Moreover, inside the country.
Now there is a problem with indigenous languages, culture, customs in Russia. We pay little attention to this problem.
International relations and sanctions
WADA decision to debar Russians for 4 years
It's not fair and inconsistent with both common sense and law. Doping decisions were linked to the participation of our athletes under the neutral flag at the Olympics. Now we have been punished for the same thing once again. But any punishment has to be individual. The WADA decision contradicts the Olympic Charter and most likely has a political connotation again.
Our girls perform in figure skating. They do four turns when no one else does it. But they have nothing to do with doping.
The conflict in Libya and the mercenaries from Russia
Russia is in contact with both sides and is in constant dialogue with partners in Turkey and other countries. Russia was against the use of armed forces in Libya. The UN Security Council resolution banned the use of Gaddafi's aircraft. The West instead began using its aircraft against Libyan forces. The best thing to do is to find a solution between the conflicting parties and agree on who will lead the country, how and under what authority.
Sanctions for Russia and impeachment of Trump
I'm not sure Trump's presidency is over. It's unlikely that the Republicans will want to remove him from office for some completely far-fetched reasons. It's a continuation of the political struggle. Democrats pushed the idea of Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election, but, as it turned out, there was no conspiracy. Trump can’t be impeached.
As for sanctions, they will affect our relations. The US will work where it is interesting and profitable for them, restraining Russia. We will do the same thing. But we are ready to extend the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (on short- and medium-range missiles)
Sanctions by the EU
The consequences of these sanctions - for the European Union - amount to 50 billion euros. The World Bank has counted $50 billion.
There are cons, but there are also advantages – for instance, a leap in agricultural development. We have spent trillions on import substitution. Russia now has helicopter engines. There were no engines for sea vessels – we have them now. It's a huge leap in the defense industry.
The Russian economy has adapted to external shocks, and the ruble has become more stable due to fluctuations in energy resources. The economy is buckling away from world oil markets.
