Putin Emphasizes Unity in New Year Address, Downplays Ukraine Conflict

Address comes as Russia faces deadlocked war and upcoming presidential election, with Putin likely to remain in power until 2036.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his New Year address, emphasized unity and shared determination, making only a passing reference to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Putin praised his soldiers as heroes but did not mention Ukraine by name, nor the 'special military operation', his term for the war he initiated in February 2022.
The address comes amidst a shift in Putin's messaging, as he has recently given more public attention to the economy and inflation, issues likely to be closer to the hearts of voters, with the war largely deadlocked.
The address was broadcast a day after shelling in the center of the Russian border city of Belgorod killed 24 people, including three children, marking one of the most casualty-heavy attacks on Russian soil since the start of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine 22 months ago.
Putin is seeking reelection in a March 17 presidential election that he is all but certain to win, potentially allowing him to remain in power until 2036.