Putin Asserts Russia's Military Goals in Ukraine Will Be Achieved

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow's forces were advancing on the battlefield in Ukraine. He reiterated his belief that the Kremlin's military objectives would be achieved almost four years after he ordered troops into the neighboring country.

Speaking at a year-end news conference, Putin said Russian forces had "completely seized the strategic initiative" and would make more progress by year's end.

At the start of the 2022 conflict, Ukrainian forces managed to thwart a larger and more complete Russian army effort to seize the capital Kyiv.

But the battle soon turned into a gruelling battle, and Moscow's forces have made slow but steady progress over the years. Putin has often boasted of this progress - though it has not been the lightning advance many expected.

"Our troops are advancing along the contact line, faster in some areas or slower in others, but the enemy is retreating in all sectors," Putin said, quoted by the Associated Press, Friday, December 19.

Putin, who has ruled the country for 25 years, has used the event to consolidate his power and deliver his views on domestic and global affairs.

This year, observers have paid particular attention to Putin's statements about Ukraine and the peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump.

Despite extensive diplomatic efforts, Washington's efforts have met with very contradictory demands from Moscow and Kyiv.

Putin reiterated Moscow's readiness for a peaceful settlement that would address the "root causes" of the conflict, referring to the Kremlin's tough conditions for a deal.

Earlier this week, Putin warned Moscow would seek to expand its gains in Ukraine if Kyiv and its Western allies rejected the Kremlin's demands.