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Russian President Vladimir Putin utilized his New Year’s reside to present a blunt connection to nan West and to his ain troops: Russia is not backing down successful Ukraine.
As 2026 arrived successful Russia’s acold eastbound regions, Putin vowed triumph successful nan astir four-year war, praising Russian soldiers and framing nan conflict arsenic a conflict for nan nation’s endurance — moreover arsenic nan United States ramps up negotiated efforts aimed astatine ending nan bloodshed.
"We judge successful you and our victory," Putin said successful remarks broadcast nationwide and released by nan Kremlin connected Wednesday. Addressing troops directly, he congratulated "all our soldiers and commanders" and pledged continued support for what Moscow calls its "special subject operation."
TRUMP TOUTS 'TREMENDOUS PROGRESS' BUT SAYS HE'LL MEET PUTIN AND ZELENSKYY 'ONLY WHEN' PEACE DEAL IS FINAL
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his New Year’s reside from nan Kremlin, vowing triumph successful nan warfare successful Ukraine. (East2West)
Putin formed nan warfare arsenic a struggle for Russia’s homeland, "truth and justice," signaling determination to property up contempt mounting losses and world pressure.
In a abstracted message, ex-president Dmitry Medvedev — Putin’s information assembly lawman — said of triumph successful Ukraine: "I sincerely judge that it is near." Echoing Putin, he said of "our awesome and invincible Russia."
The defiant reside comes arsenic nan warfare approaches grim milestones. On Jan. 12, Russia’s penetration of Ukraine will surpass nan 1,418 days nan Soviet Union fought Nazi Germany successful Europe during World War II. On Feb. 24, nan conflict will participate its 4th year. Western estimates spot nan number of killed and wounded astatine much than 1 cardinal — a fig nan Kremlin disputes.
TRUMP MEETS WITH ZELENSKYY; TALKS COULD UNLOCK FIRST ZELENSKYY-PUTIN CALL IN FIVE YEARS: SOURCE
The mother of a Russian worker who was killed successful a subject action successful Ukraine, kneels adjacent a planted character successful representation of her boy astatine nan Alley of Heroes successful Sevastopol, Crimea, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. (AP Photo)
Putin’s rhetoric stood successful crisp opposition to renewed negotiated activity led by Washington.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met pinch U.S. President Donald Trump astatine Trump’s Mar-a-Lago edifice successful Florida connected Sunday, arsenic nan White House explores imaginable paths to extremity Europe’s largest onshore warfare since World War II.
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U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shingle hands astatine a news convention pursuing a gathering astatine Trump’s Mar-a-Lago nine connected December 28, 2025 successful Palm Beach, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
After nan meeting, Trump said Ukraine and Russia were "closer than ever" to peace, while acknowledging that awesome obstacles — peculiarly territorial disputes — stay unresolved. Reuters separately reported that Trump and Zelenskyy discussed imaginable U.S. unit engagement arsenic portion of broader information guarantees, though nary decisions were announced.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Efrat Lachter is an investigative newsman and warfare correspondent. Her activity has taken her to 40 countries, including Ukraine, Russia, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan. She is simply a recipient of nan 2024 Knight-Wallace Fellowship for Journalism. Lachter tin beryllium followed connected X @efratlachter.
