Checking In With Mr. Putin

For the past two years RG-21 has reported on Russian President Putin’s activities during the year and attempted to draw some conclusions about his ups and downs, and see where he stood at year’s end. This year, again, we will do the same, focusing on his annual year-end press conference in Moscow on Dec. 17th.

Overall it appears that Mr. Putin had a pretty good 2015. He has dealt with a number of issues including falling energy prices, Ukraine, and NATO on his doorstep and a shoot-down of one of his aircraft by NATO member Turkey. His biggest gamble has been to step up military support and put Russian boots on the ground in Syria. He has his own reasons for doing this, including quashing jihad in Syria before jihad comes home to bite him in Russia. Also with his muscling his way into the Middle East comes the fact that he and Russia must now be considered major players in the Middle East conflict.

Attached below is a full English transcript of Mr. Putin’s annual press conference where you can get his exact words on the situation in Russia and the challenges that he sees Russia facing.

Finally, what do you think about Mr. Putin’s year, his policies and future developments in the Middle East in the light of Russia’s inevitable presence and influence in the region?

Please log in and let us know.

 

Full text of Putin Press Confernce:

http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/47250

Photo: VOA