Despite Moscow’s military facing setbacks during the Ukraine war this year, Putin predicted Russia will become an «inspiring example for other states.»
Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the importance of Russians fighting in the Ukraine war during his New Year’s Eve address on Saturday.
The Russian leader’s speech came more than 10 months after he ordered the invasion of Ukraine on February 24. The war further strained relations between Moscow and the West, which has provided Ukraine with humanitarian and military aid, and has condemned Putin’s war as lacking justification and violating international norms.
Putin’s troops have struggled to achieve substantial victories in Ukraine throughout the year. In the fall, Ukraine launched its own counteroffensive, recapturing thousands of square miles of formerly occupied territory. Experts view the war as exposing the weaknesses in Putin’s military, such as an apparent struggle to maintain well-trained, motivated troops.
On Saturday, heading into 2023, Putin delivered a speech to the backdrop of ongoing losses in Ukraine and growing pressure at home, as millions of Russians decline to fight. Meanwhile, some Russian officials admit the war is not going as planned.
