Russian president Vladimir Putin will not hold his typical yearly press conference for the first time in at least ten years.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked about the event during a call with the press. When asked if there was a date for the “big news conference,” Peskov said, “No, there won’t be one before the new year.”
Peskov added that Putin would have other methods of speaking with reporters, and said he had conducted other press conferences, including during his foreign travels. He also said that the Kremlin would later provide information on when Putin’s yearly speech to the Russian parliament would be held. Peskov added that Putin will not host a New Year’s event, either.
Putin initially carried out the conference in 2001, after coming to power at the end of 1999. During the time he was prime minister from 2008 to 2011, he did not conduct one, but they were restarted after he was re-elected president in 2012. He did not hold one in 2005 when he was president.
Some discussed the reasons behind Putin’s withdrawal, with speculation revolving around recent struggles in the war in Ukraine. Outlets have also pointed out that Putin’s personal health has been a topic of conversation over the course of the year, with questions swirling about whether or not the Russian president is well.
Tatiana Stanovaya, the founder of the R.Politik political analysis group, wrote about the announcement on her Telegram channel.
“I don’t think that Putin has nothing to say, especially as he’s said so much recently,” she said. “More likely he has a psychological unwillingness to ‘explain himself,’ to answer boring and routine questions, to waste time on preparations, play the role of the kind father and so forth.”
“For the foreign audience, he can say everything he deems necessary, he’ll find an occasion,” she continued. “As to the domestic audience, he doesn’t see the point. Let his subordinates handle it.”
Last year, the press conference was held on December 23, around two months prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Last week, Putin appeared in a video speaking about the situation in Ukraine. He was holding a glass of sparkling wine and some on social media considered that he was drunk as he moved back and forth while speaking to the camera.
“There’s a lot of noise right now about our strikes against the energy infrastructure of the neighboring country,” Putin said about Ukraine.
“Yes, we are doing it, but who started it? Who struck the Crimean bridge?” he added.