Russian President Vladimir Putin used his annual televised New Year's address to rally his troops fighting in Ukraine, saying he believed in them and in victory in a war that he has framed as part of an existential struggle with the West.

January, President Vladimir Putin’s “special military operation” in Ukraine will have dragged on longer than the war on the Eastern Front that ended with the fall of Berlin in May 1945.

Vladimir Putin is speaking in Russia at an annual TV event where he is addressing a number of issues, including the Russia-Ukraine war.

Vladimir Putin was muted for 34 seconds as he gave a major speech to world leaders on Friday (12 December). The Russian president, 73, was due to speak in front of 16 heads of state and government at the International Forum on Peace and Trust session in Turkmenistan capital Ashgabat when he experienced issues with his microphone.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told his annual end-of-year press conference on Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump was right to sue the BBC over edited clips of his speech.

Vladimir Putin was left humiliated and appeared visibly rattled after being left on mute for more than 30 seconds while trying to kick off a major speech to world leaders. Russia's president realised his mic wasn't working as it should at the International Forum on Peace and Trust in Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat.

The remarks coincided with the 26th anniversary of his rise to power, as Russia continues nearly four years of conflict, occupying around a fifth of Ukraine and carrying out frequent missile and drone attacks that have killed thousands and displaced millions.

Volodymyr Zelensky has wished for Vladimir Putin to die in his annual Christmas address - as he offers to create a demilitarised zone in Ukraine to bring an end to the war with Russia. The Ukrainian president called for his Russian counterpart to 'perish' in a pre-recorded statement posted to his X account on Christmas Eve.

India, Pakistan and UAE join Trump in condemning what Kyiv says are false allegations of hit on Russian leader’s residence