Social issues are expected to lead the list of questions submitted by the public
FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin at his end-of-year press conference, Moscow, Russia, December 19, 2024. © Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold his traditional end-of-year press conference on Friday at noon Moscow time. This year will again combine the event with the ‘Direct Line’, during which Putin will respond to questions from citizens and the press.
According to the Kremlin, Western journalists are also expected to take part in the event.
The collection of queries from the Russian public began on December 4 and had reportedly exceeded 1.2 million as of Sunday. Last year, Putin fielded questions from a total of more than 2 million submitted for four and a half hours.
The main topics are expected to be “social issues” and questions related to Russian frontline soldiers and their families, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Izvestia in an interview on Thursday.
“While last year, healthcare-related issues were the most common, this year they’re not even in the top three. In the top five, probably,” he said. Many systemic problems have been ironed out in the past year, he noted.
The Russian president always prepares for the year-end event in advance, but the days ahead of the broadcast are hectic, when Putin brings questions to ministers and deputy prime ministers, according to Peskov.
Follow live updates on RT.com for the latest from the press conference and direct line session.
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19 December 2025
09:40 GMT
Ukraine has almost run out of troop reserves, which should ultimately force Kiev to return to the diplomatic process, Putin says.
- 09:35 GMT
The capture of the Donbass town of Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk) also opens significant opportunities for the Russian Army, Putin says, adding that Moscow’s troops have fully encircled the town of Dmitrov. “I think our forces have by now taken 50% of its territory,” he notes.
- 09:29 GMT
Recent advances on the battlefield and the capture of the town of Seversk mean Russian troops have a direct path towards the Donbass city of Slavyansk, the key hub in the region, Putin says.
Read more
- 09:28 GMT
Kiev refused to sign a peace agreement during the Istanbul talks in 2022 and continues to oppose a peaceful settlement now, Putin says.
- 09:22 GMT
Russia firmly holds the strategic initiative on the battlefield after pushing back Ukrainian troops from Kursk Region this spring, Putin says.
- 09:20 GMT
Putin starts the session by addressing the Ukraine conflict. He says it began with the Western-backed coup Kiev in 2014 and continued due to Kiev’s refusal to respect the rights of the people in Donbass.
“We are open and ready for ending the conflict peacefully… in a way that eliminates the root causes of the crisis,” Putin says.
- 09:13 GMT
Journalists have gathered ahead of Putin’s press conference, many holding placards listing proposed topics and questions.
- 09:12 GMT
Last year, Putin’s press conference, which was also combined with a public question-and-answer session, lasted nearly four and a half hours and covered a broad range of issues, from domestic priorities to foreign policy.
- 09:12 GMT
Hello, and welcome to RT’s coverage of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annual telemarathon, which is expected to last several hours.
More
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19 December 2025
09:12 GMT
Hello, and welcome to RT’s coverage of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annual telemarathon, which is expected to last several hours.
- 09:12 GMT
Last year, Putin’s press conference, which was also combined with a public question-and-answer session, lasted nearly four and a half hours and covered a broad range of issues, from domestic priorities to foreign policy.
- 09:13 GMT
Journalists have gathered ahead of Putin’s press conference, many holding placards listing proposed topics and questions.
- 09:20 GMT
Putin starts the session by addressing the Ukraine conflict. He says it began with the Western-backed coup Kiev in 2014 and continued due to Kiev’s refusal to respect the rights of the people in Donbass.
“We are open and ready for ending the conflict peacefully… in a way that eliminates the root causes of the crisis,” Putin says.
- 09:22 GMT
Russia firmly holds the strategic initiative on the battlefield after pushing back Ukrainian troops from Kursk Region this spring, Putin says.
- 09:28 GMT
Kiev refused to sign a peace agreement during the Istanbul talks in 2022 and continues to oppose a peaceful settlement now, Putin says.
- 09:29 GMT
Recent advances on the battlefield and the capture of the town of Seversk mean Russian troops have a direct path towards the Donbass city of Slavyansk, the key hub in the region, Putin says.
Read more
- 09:35 GMT
The capture of the Donbass town of Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk) also opens significant opportunities for the Russian Army, Putin says, adding that Moscow’s troops have fully encircled the town of Dmitrov. “I think our forces have by now taken 50% of its territory,” he notes.
- 09:40 GMT
Ukraine has almost run out of troop reserves, which should ultimately force Kiev to return to the diplomatic process, Putin says.
More