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Putin Re-iterates Readiness for Ukraine Peace Talks
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Above: Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual call-in-show and press conference at the Gostiny Dvor hall on Dec. 19, 2024, in Moscow, Russia. Image copyright: Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
In a four-and-a-half-hour 'Direct Line' event where Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin fielded questions from the press and public on a host of domestic and international issues on Thursday, the Russian leader re-iterated his willingness to enter into peace talks to end the conflict in Ukraine.
"Politics is the art of compromise," Putin said. "We have always said that we are ready for both talks and compromises." He added: "We are ready, but we need the other side to also be ready to negotiate and to compromise" — once again referencing the disputed claim that a deal was nearly reached in 2022, but that it was torpedoed at the insistence of the UK.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This is a highly choreographed event with carefully selected questions to give the appearance that Putin is a competent CEO with a solid grasp of what's going on in his nation. The responses were so predictable that coverage could have been written up before the event even started.
Pro-Russia narrative
Responding to journalists and members of the Russian public, Putin gave frank and honest responses on the challenges currently facing the country, as well as outlining its progress and achievements.
