Putin's Annual Face the Nation Live Summarised

By Rhod Mackenzie

Now as far as I know,no other head of state of a major  country sits down in from of an audience of his people and the tv cameras broacasting live and has a 4 and a half hour question and  answer session without notes and not knowing the questions in advance.

So Vladimir Putin sat down and provided a summary of the results he and his agovernemt achieved in 2025. In his customary format, the head of state addressed the current state of the Russian economy, achievements in the Specal Military Operation, the state's social policy, and Russia's relations with the West. So what issues were the focus of the head of state and the Russian people's attention?
The "Year in Review with Vladimir Putin" programme lasted 4.5 hours. According to Channel One  the number of message,questions and  inquiries to the president exceeded three million, of which the head of state managed to answer 77. This conversation was one of the longest in the format's history.

Special Operations and Peace
The conversation commenced with an enquiry regarding the status of the special operation and the potential for a peaceful resolution to the situation in Ukraine. Putin emphasised that the decision to launch the special military operation was a response to the agression and the killing of the people in the Donetsk and Lugnask peoples republics  initiated by the Ukraine.
Putin also restated Russia's eagerness to engage in peace negotiations. He stated that Moscow expects to resolve the situation by addressing the root causes of the crisis, and that the terms for resolving it were outlined by Moscow back in June 2024. The president also noted that the primary issue at present is the position of official Kyiv, which has demonstrated a lack of willingness to engage in discussions regarding the key aspects of the peace plan.
Its also worth noting that he gave the BBC the Bolshevik Bullshit Company that the UK population have to fund correspondent the odious piece of shight Steven Sacker the chance to ask a question. That coont's question was asking once Putin have taken Ukraine was it true he would march his troops on the rest of Europe.
Putin as he does every year treats the odious cunt Sacker with contemp and schools him about respect and the fact the NATO has none for Russia's bounderies and red lines and if they had repected them then the current situation would not have happened. Sacker then slithered under his stone chastened and chastised.    

It is also worth noting that the issue of the presidential election in Ukraine was raised or should we say the lack of one. Putin restated the necessity for the country's government to be recognised as legitimate. Russia is prepared to consider ensuring certain security measures on that day to organise the vote, and Ukrainian citizens living in Russia must be able to go to the polls. Furthermore, the introduction of international governance in Ukraine by Europeans, Americans and Russians may be discussed.

With regard to the current situation on the front line, Putin provided an update on the key successes achieved by Russian troops. The President has announced that Krasny Liman, Konstantinovka, and Dimitrov are now 50% under Russian Armed Forces control. The head of state reflected on the liberation of Seversk and Krasnoarmeysk, which created a significant foundation for subsequent offensive operations, and the capture of half of Huliaipole in the Zaporizhzhia region.

The situation in Seversk was of particular concern. The commander of the assault group, Hero of Russia Naran Ochir-Goryaev, whose unit participated in the city's capture, was invited by the president to speak about the situation in the city and its liberation. The president later made several attempts to contact Ochir-Goryaev for comment, a first for the "Itogo yaga" (Year in Review) program.
The issue of supplying the troops with drones was also discussed. Putin noted that there is a slight shortage of heavy UAVs like the Baba Yaga, but that development and delivery of these aircraft is being increased. The President emphasised that Defense Minister Andrei Belousov is personally overseeing this effort, which has already had a positive impact on the situation at the front.

At the same time, Russia maintains overall superiority over its adversary in terms of the number of drones.

The number of volunteers signing contracts with the Ministry of Defense to participate in the Air Defense Forces also remains significant. "Over 400,000 people—406,000 or 410,000—joined us under contract this past year. The number of people willing to serve in the new, recently created branch of the military – unmanned aircraft – is so large that the Ministry of Defence is forced to announce a competition for places," the president explained.
The president also directed his attention to the matter of social guarantees for Special Military Operation participants. One of the young women who contacted him – a mother of two who lost her breadwinner husband in 2024 – complained about problems obtaining her military pension and identification. Following the incident, Putin offered an apology, stating: "I would like to express my sincere regret for the slow response of the services responsible for resolving issues of this nature." We kindly request your forgiveness."

He has committed to exercising additional oversight over all matters pertaining to this area. It came to light that the pension had already been allocated, and the Investigative Committee initiated an investigation into the negligence.

During the conversation, Putin also addressed the issue of searching for missing persons in Ukraine, calling it acute and sensitive. He reported that the Ministry of Defense had established a coordinating centre, specialised departments within military groups, and a separate registry for searching for such individuals. In light of these developments, the number of missing persons had decreased by approximately 50%.

Mashenka Bakery and the Russian Economy

Putin provided a comprehensive overview of the economic situation. He stated that GDP growth will be 1% this year and 9.7% over the last three years. For comparison, growth in the eurozone over the same period was 3.1%. The president clarified that the deceleration in Russia is a deliberate strategy by the nation's leadership, "associated with inflation targeting."

Putin noted that the objective of reducing inflation to 6% appears to have been achieved, with forecasts indicating that it will reach 5.7-5.9% by the end of the year. Industrial production grew by 1%, while agriculture expanded by 3.3%. Housing construction saw a slight slowdown, with a decrease from 107.5 million square metres to 102-105 million square metres.

The President reported a 4.5% increase in real wages and a further decline in unemployment, to a record 2.2% from last year's 2.5%. The federal budget deficit is forecast to be 2.6% this year.

"For the following year, we are assuming an increase of 1.6%, and over the next three years, the increase should be no more than 1.5%. This is a positive indicator, especially given that our public debt remains very low, one of the lowest among developed economies," the head of state explained. In light of the aforementioned circumstances, the Central Bank has decided to reduce its key rate to 16%.

The economic topic included the upcoming VAT increase to 22% in 2026. The President noted that this decision was the result of lengthy discussions within the government and administration. He stated that the most honest and transparent way to address the current financial challenges is to increase VAT.

The objective is to achieve a balanced budget and prevent the economy from entering a state of stagnation. Putin stated that this objective had been accomplished, in part, as a result of the decision that had been made. He added that the ultimate goal is to reduce the tax burden in the future, and the government will work towards that end. "I'm counting on that, too," the president emphasised.
In this context, the owner of the Mashenka bakery in Lyubertsy, near Moscow, contacted the president to express concerns about the potential challenges faced by small businesses due to changes in tax legislation and the abolition of benefits for individual entrepreneurs.

Putin clarified that these measures were taken to counteract "gray" and "black" import schemes that abused previous preferences.

At the conclusion of the conversation, the president invited the businessman to provide him with samples of his baked goods. The Russian leader suggested that if he received a tasty gift, he would be willing to to get the baker to collaborate with the government.

Another topic of discussion was the challenges currently being experienced by the civilian aircraft industry. The President characterised this issue as being of significant urgency.
He clarified that while the development of civil aviation has frequently been assisted  by military transport, military aircraft have historically adopted a distinct approach.
The head of state confirmed that Russia now definitely has developed  its own modern aircraft. He highlighted the MS-21 aircraft  and the SJ -100 Superetas a competitive option for the global market. Furthermore, the president emphasised the necessity to construct cargo aircraft such as the An-124 Ruslan and the modernised Il-76.

"This is not  ust theft. This is robbery."
The Russian leader also commented on the EU's efforts to expropriate Russian assets in order to provide financial support to Ukraine. He stressed that the term 'theft' is not applicable to the present situation. "Theft is the secret theft of property. However, in this instance, they are attempting to proceed in an open manner. This is tantamount to daylight robbery. Putin stated that the potential repercussions for the robbers could be significant.

The President highlighted that loans to Ukraine secured by Russian assets would increase the financial liabilities of EU countries, which are already facing budgetary difficulties. He also warned that attempts to confiscate assets would undermine confidence in the eurozone and have fundamental consequences for the entire European financial system.

The head of state also addressed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who had previously stated that Russia was allegedly ready to attack Europe. He asked Rutte: "What are you saying about war with Russia?" – 'We need to prepare for war with Russia.' Their objective is to prepare for the possibility of armed conflict with Russia.

The recently unveiled National Security Strategy refrains from designating Russia as an adversary or a target. However, the NATO Secretary General is preparing for potential military confrontation with our nation. What is this? May I ask whether you are able to read? How can you aim NATO at war with Russia if the main NATO country doesn't consider us an adversary or an enemy?" the president explained.
Vladimir Putin has stated that any threats from the West, and in particular the possibility of a blockade of the Kaliningrad region, would lead to an extremely dangerous and unprecedented escalation of the conflict, up to and including a large-scale armed confrontation.

AI and cognitive abilities
The meeting also addressed matters pertaining to technological development. The president was specifically asked about the necessity of creating the domestic messaging app, Max. Vladimir Putin has stated that this decision is neccessaty and appropriate, particularly in light of the fact that foreign social platforms have not always adhered to Russian legislation.
He stated that with the emergence of Max, the country has gained full digital sovereignty and is now one of the top three global leaders in this field, alongside China and the United States. He expressed confidence that the platform will eventually have Russian competitors.
In response to a query regarding the integration of artificial intelligence in educational settings, the president underscored the significance of achieving equilibrium. He was convinced that the majority of educational tasks should be completed in the classroom, in order to ensure the development of children's thinking. Russia has no plans to ban foreign AI resources. Putin explained that regulations will only be applied if foreign platforms fail to comply with Russian laws.

Birth Rates in the Regions and a Letter to the Future
Social policy, and family issues in particular, were also a concern for citizens. For instance, Vladimir Putin addressed a question posed by a child regarding the increase in school cafeteria prices while salaries remained stagnant.

"When people see some average figures, it often raises questions, because average figures, as a rule, do not correspond to what a person encounters in real life," the president said.

The head of state presented a series of measures designed to provide assistance to families with children. As of 1 January, families with per capita incomes below 1.5 times the subsistence minimum will receive a 7% refund on their personal income tax. Putin acknowledged that, despite a number of existing measures, they are still insufficient and promised to improve the system, as "all state policy at the federal and regional levels must revolve around this."
In response to numerous requests to extend childcare payments from one and a half to three years, the president noted that this had not previously been implemented due to budget constraints and instructed the government to address the issue. He also recommended that regions prioritise the creation of nursery groups when renovating kindergartens and consider increasing the time children spend in preschools.

Putin emphasised the necessity to increase the total fertility rate to a minimum of two children per woman. He noted that positive demographic trends are already observed in 25 regions, and their success depends largely on the effective work of local authorities.
The issue of water supply in Russia's historical regions has become a matter of significant concern. In particular, war correspondent and Hero of Russia Yevgeny Poddubny highlighted water problems. He has stated that the water supply to homes is inconsistent, with periods of several days between supplies, and of poor quality. In response, Putin announced plans to construct a second water pipeline.

He also noted that Donbas's water supply systems are in dire condition, with water losses in some areas reaching 50%. Furthermore, the president noted that the cost of repairing the deterioration of the pipelines would be equivalent to the cost of building a new water pipeline. It is anticipated that the issue of the "water blockade" will be fully resolved once the Russian Armed Forces assume control of the territory to the east of Slovyansk.

To conclude, as part of the customary final blitz, the president, at the behest of the television presenters, recorded a message for the benefit of the Russia peope's future  
We lived like everyone else, everywhere and always, with our current concerns. However, we dod not remain static; we advance, we worked, we struggled, we fight, and we endeavour to solve the problems presented to us by our era. We mindful of  future and you.

If you are currently hearing this message, it signifies that you too feel part of our collective, uninterrupted temporal progression. It means you, too, sense and understand the connection betweenus and time. This is a significant achievement and we would like to congratulate you on it. It signifies that our efforts, struggles and reflections on you have not been in vain, and we have accomplished a great deal.
We wish you continued success and contentment, and that your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will hold you in high regard, as we do our own fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers.