For over four hours, Vladimir Putin answered questions from selected citizens, propagandists and a few journalists during the annual television marathon. He acted as the nation's protector, concerned about the condition of schools, roads and hospitals. He showed himself as an approachable leader who can talk about love, literature and family. And as a near-omniscient ruler who can recite all the facts on any topic – whether it's phone fraud or trade with China.
Putin only got angry when the conversation turned to Europe. Many of his statements were well-known lies. He claimed, for example, that it was not Russia but the West that started the war in Ukraine. Or that it is not the Russians who threaten Europeans, but the other way around.
This time Putin had a new message for Europeans: your great friend and defender, the United States, has left you in the lurch! The Kremlin despot targeted NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who recently explicitly warned against war with Putin: We are Russia's next target.
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The Russian president responded with mockery, invoking US President Donald Trump's National Security Strategy. — The US is a key player and main sponsor of NATO […]. The new security strategy does not mention Russia as either an enemy or a target. But the NATO Secretary General is preparing for war against us. Can you even read?
According to Putin without the support of the United States, NATO is unable to oppose his country, and the times when Americans tried to stop Russia are over.
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, August 15, 2025.EPA/GAVRIIL GRIGOROV / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL / PAP
In fact, in the most important strategic document of the US government there is not a single word critical of Russia. Trump only announces the end of the war in Ukraine and then the restoration of security in Europe — but there is no criticism of Russia as the warring party. Trump treats the European Union completely differently: the White House calls the EU a threat to European countries and announces support for “resistance” to the EU.
In the light of these events, Putin presents himself as confident of victory in Ukraine as well. He boasted of progress “across the front lines,” touted the mass production of drones and declared that in this year over 400 thousand Russians “freely” volunteered for military service. Equally telling was what he didn't mention: his country's economic crisis and the hundreds of thousands of dead soldiers.
Putin does not hide his plans for next year: war at all costs.
The Kremlin accuses the EU of trying to “robbery”
A little later, during his annual propaganda program, Vladimir Putin spoke of an attempted “robbery”. According to him, Europe unsuccessfully tried to “steal” Russian assets and transfer them to Ukraine. The Kremlin dictator warned that each confiscation of Russian funds undermines trust in European countries.
Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary, Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, and Bart de Wever, Prime Minister of Belgium, at the summit in Brussels, December 18, 2025.PAP/EPA/STEPHANIE LECOCQ / POOL
Russia intends to defend its interests in court. “Whatever they steal, they'll have to pay it back eventually,” he threatenedPutin. However, he himself did not mention the theft of Ukrainian territory and the destruction of Ukrainian cities by his army.
On the night from Thursday to Friday, during the summit in Brussels, the EU heads of state and government agreed on further support for Ukraine in the amount of EUR 90 billion. [ok. 380 mld zł] in the next two years. It was a compromise because several EU countries opposed the original plan to use frozen Russian assets. As a result, the money will now come from the EU budget.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
