Putin tells an end-of-year press conference there should have been "systemic preparation" for the full-scale invasion.

Summary

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a televised year-end press conference, said Russia should have invaded Ukraine earlier with better preparation.

He defended his policies, highlighting strengthened ties with China, Russia’s aggressive nuclear doctrine, and military gains in Ukraine, while dismissing claims of setbacks.

Putin claimed economic “stability” despite sanctions but acknowledged 9.1% inflation.

He emphasized “sovereignty” as a key success of reducing Western reliance.

The press conference was highly choreographed and tightly controlled.

  • FuglyDuckEnglish
    65•22 hours ago

    You know, I still say it’s incredibly depressing we didn’t loan them a couple A10 warthogs to hit that convoy that was pushing to Kyiv.

    I mean, seriously.

    all those tanks… all those fuel trucks and other supplies? all just lined up and stuck on a road? just waiting for an A10 driver to just… do their thing…

    • @[email protected]English
      38•21 hours ago

      It was the one incredibly specific scenario where the A-10 would actually have been useful.

      • @VikthorEnglish
        20•21 hours ago

        Unfortunately that’s not necessarily true. The north of Ukraine at the time was covered by S-300 and/or S-400 AA systems deployed in russia. While these can be dealt with by F-35(As demonstrated by Israel), something as old and slow as A-10 wouldn’t fare well. Which is one of the reasons why the US Air force is trying to retire them.

        • @[email protected]English
          1•17 hours ago

          I think the UAF were already jury-rigging HARMs onto their aircraft by that time, but point taken.