Putin’s remarkable move: canceled the traditional end-of-year meeting

The Kremlin has announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not hold the traditional end-of-year press conference this year. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin often spoke to the press, especially during his trips abroad.

No details were provided about the reason for the cancellation.

With this step, Putin will not hold a closely watched press conference in the country for the first time in 10 years. In these meetings that lasted for hours, the Russian leader was transferring on television the balance of the last year and the plans for the next year through the questions of the journalists.

Some people described this decision as “a consequence of Putin’s refusal to comment on the invasion of Ukraine.” It is said that the Russian leader made this decision because he avoided criticism of the military failures in Ukraine.

After the invasion of Ukraine in Russia, which began in February, the voices against the war are increasing and the pressure on the press is increasing.