Putin signals no rush to end Ukraine war in marathon TV appearance
Live MintRussian President Vladimir Putin appeared in no hurry to seek an end to the war in Ukraine during his annual set-piece television event Thursday, seeking instead to project Russia’s strength despite President-elect Donald Trump’s stated goal of achieving a quick peace. Any attempt at brokering peace faces significant obstacles, with analysts saying that Putin believes he is winning the war regardless of Russia’s slow and costly gains. Putin said that if other countries pose a threat to Russia’s existence, Moscow believes it has the right to use nuclear weapons, a warning he and other Russian officials have repeatedly issued in recent months. Russia’s inability to keep its key ally in power tarnishes Putin’s image as a reliable global leader, challenging his narrative of a rising Russian power opposing Western dominance, analysts say.