"Putin's Unwavering Determination to Achieve Russia's Goals in Ukraine"

Russian President Vladimir Putin held his annual end-of-year press conference, stating that Russia's goals in Ukraine remain "unchanged," including de-nazification, de-militarization, and neutral status for Ukraine. He mentioned that peace would only be possible after de-militarization and warned of the possibility of resolving the conflict by force if an agreement cannot be reached. Putin also expressed hope for a solution regarding the detention of two high-profile Americans in Russia. The press conference, which portrays Putin as a problem-solver, was invitation-only this year, and will be followed by a call-in television show for ordinary Russians.