Putin: If the West shows us respect, there will be no need for military operations

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his traditional annualyear-endpress conference, evaluated the year 2025. Addressing awide range of topicsfrom Russia's domestic policies to the Russia-Ukraine War,Putin also answered questionsregarding relations with Western countries.also gave messages regarding the tension they are experiencing. The Russian leader, during the pressconference that lasted approximately four and ahalf hours, answered questions from the public as well as journalists. Holding NATO and Westerncountries responsible for thespecial military operationsthat the Russian army isconducting in Ukraine, Putin said, "The Eastthey had promised that there would not be a single inch of NATO expansion to the east.Western politiciansbrought the situation to this point with their own hands.They continue to escalate the tension.If you do not deceive us as you did with NATO's eastward expansion and if you treat us with respect, there will be no new special military operations," he said.Western

leadersgovernments' own mistakesto cover up, Russiaas an "enemy" toportrayattempting, Putin argued, "The claim that we are planning to attack Europe is abconflicts. This is done for domestic political reasons to create an image of an enemy. It is being done. Western governments have for years been systematically blaming their own economic and social policy failures to cover it up, they are trying toportrayRussiaas anenemy," he said.Adding that Russia is ready to work with Western countries, Putin continued,"With Europe, the UK, and the US to workwe are ready. However, on equal terms," he stated.

"Europe's efforts to seizeRussian assetsare theft."

The European Union (EU) countries' transfer of Russianassets to the Ukrainian side isdescribing the decision-making process before him as "theft," Putin said, "Theft is not the appropriate term. Theft is the secret seizure of a country. However, they are trying to do this in our country openly. This is a robbery committed in broad daylight . Why is this robbery takcannot berealized? Because the resultscould be veryheavy for therobbers," he said.

Interpreting this decision by the EU as a "coup" and noting that in the futuremany countries will face such a problempointing out that they might encounter Putin noted, "This is not just a blow to the imagebut also, the euro bshaking confidence in the regionand undermining many countries, especially oil producing nations, alongside Russiaand theforeign exchange reserves euro zone, keeping themis aviolation of trust. Once this begins, itcan be repeated under various pretexts," he said.

Putin emphasized that in thisprocess, they will continue to protect their rights,stating, "No matter what they steal andno matter how they do it, they will eventually have to give it back. But above all, first and foremost, we will defend our interests in the courts.We will seek to find a judicial authority independent of political decisions. will work," he said."Eastern European

countries have encircledKaliningrad." Putin,

Eastern European arguing that their countrieshave no connection to Russia's main borders, besieging the city of Kaliningrad, and stating, "The attempt toblockade the Kaliningradregion," conflict to a levelunseenbefore, turninginto a large-scale military conflictitselfcontinues. Ifthey pose a threat to us, we will eliminate those threats. Everyone must understand this," he said.

"We would very muchlike to livein peace next year."

Recently, regarding peacewith UkTouchingupon the efforts made to hold negotiations,Putin stated that Russia is willing to pursue peace.Putin said, "We would very much like to live in peace next year, away from military conflicts, and live inpeaceourselves." we would very much like to. I wouldalso like to reiterate that we want to resolvecontentious issues through negotiations and we are making efforts for this," he said.

Adding that they are also strivingto conclude a long-term peaceagreement, Putin said,"ConflictIt is necessary to eliminate the root causes of the conflict. Wewill strive to ensure that such a thing does not happen again, and that peace is long- lasting and sustainable," he said.In this

process, the Ukrainian sidehas not yetresponded.Emphasizing that theyhave seen that they are not ready for peace,Putin said,"So far, we have not seenany suchreadinessfor peace negotiationsfrom Ukraine."do not see it. However, we are still seeing somesignalsthat they are ready to enter into some kind of dialogue. Theonly thing I want tosay is this: As we have always stated, this conflict peacefullyina way that is based on the principles I stated at the Russian Foreign Ministry and addresses the root causes that led to this crisis, we are ready and willing to end it," he said.He used the expressions.

"Regarding the issue of ensuring election securityin Ukraine,we are ready to evaluate it."ready to evaluate."

Pointing out that Russia has held elections in some regions it captured in the Donbas region of Ukraine and that the Ukrainian side could also do this, Putin said, "I think Kiev representatives can do this too. However, the elIf they only hold elections to stop the Russian army, that would be a mistake. We are ready to evaluate how Ukraine'selectionsecuritycan be ensured. However, in return, we have the right to demand that Ukrainians allow Ukrainian citizens in Russia to freely cast their voteson Russian territory," he said. Putin also added that without holding democraticelections,the current Ukrainian gstated that his governmentwould not be alegitimategovernment.

"There will be a response to the tanker attacks in the Black Sea"

In recentdays, addressing the increasing tanker attacks between Ukraine and Russiain the Black Sea, Putin said, "Attacks on Russian tankers do not harm the supply chain. These attacks are raising insurance premiums."carried out with the aim ofescalating. Theseattackswill always be met with a response," he said.

"Zelenskyy is a talentedperformer."

The Russian leader, regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,in the past days, a video broadcast from in front of a border sign in the Kupyansk region wasthat the region is still under the control of the Ukrainian armycriticized his announcement. Putin said, "Zelenskyy is a talented artistandI say this without anyirony. We know this from the films hemade in the past." Thefilms heThe sign in the images is one kilometer away from the townoutskirts. Why are you taking a picture in front of a sign? It is spreading fake news. At least he could have gone down to the city, walked around, seen it,and filmed his own report instead of lying. Zelenskyy doing thisisvery funny and cheap behavior,he said.

"The Russian army will achieve more success on the front by the end of the year"

The Russian army continuedits clashes in theDonbasregionandsomepartsalso advanced in the regionsarguing that, "The city of Dimitrov (Myrnohrad) in Donetsk is completely under siege. Krasnyi Lyman very soonin the future will be captured. Clashes in Kostiantynivkaare continuing and more than50 percent of the cityis under Russian controlunderit. I have no doubt that the army will capturethis placeas well.I haveno doubt. The Russian army,will achieve more success on the front line by the end of the year, I am sure of it," he said.

"700,000 Russian soldiers are fighting in Ukraine"

Speaking about the military power of the Russian army in the war in Ukraine, Putin said,"There are 700,000 soldiers in the special operation zone, and the vast majority of themconsist ofyoung people.The number of thosewho want to fight voluntarily on the frontis also high. In 2025, more than 400,000 people signed contracts with the Russian Armed Forces."specialsigned an agreement," he said.

Russian youthespecially in the field of unmannedaerial vehicles (UAV) for the Russian army many contriArguing that they also applied for food, Putin said, "The Russian Ministry of Defense has to organize a competition to holdelections"he said.

"Europe's political elites interfered in the Americanelections"

Putin, previously regarding Russia'sinterference in the USelectionstheallegations beforewhile bringingto the agenda, he reminded that European countries supported Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024US elections.Interpreting this support as Europe's interference in the USelections, Putin said, "US President"President Donald Trump had previously beenaccused ofRussia interferingin Americanelections.At thattime, no Russian supportand interference did notoccur. However, Europe's political elites clearly and directly interfered in the elections. This is quiteobvious. As for the tension between Trump and the Europeans, everything is very clear. For this,there is no need to be an expert. European political elites are US-depresidential election, he supported the Democrats(Kamala Harris)." Putin interpreted the Europeans' support for Harris as "impudence."

Marriage proposal during the press conference

An interesting moment alsooccurred at the meeting. A member of the press from Russia's Ural regionJournalist Kirill Bazhanov, who attended the meeting, took the floor during the session andproposedto his girlfriend in front of the cameras while holding a piece of paper. The Russian journalist also invited Putin to theweddingand then asked the Russian leader questions about providing financial support for young families in the country.TheworldPutin, who did not respond to the invitation ofthe day, proposed organizinga fundraising campaign. The Russian leader said, "Kirill was only asking about the financial conditionsof young families. You are right, the man should providefor the household.Now, let's raise money and at leastsupportthem."we will raise enough money for the day," he said.The press conference organizersreported that about an hour after Bazhanov's proposal,

the journalist's girlfriend accepted the marriage proposal.The press conference organizersreported that about an hour after Bazhanov's proposal, the journalist's girlfriend accepted the marriage proposal.

News Source: İHA