The traditional overview of the year on the course of the Russian economy, society and developments on the Ukrainian front was given on Thursday morning by Vladimir Putin, who also set goals for the coming year.

On the economy, Putin stressed that his country ranks first in Europe and fourth in the world in terms of economic size, but it is impossible to remain complacent with this indicator. Furthermore, he called the general economic situation in Russia “stable” and growth is steadily progressing, with parallel wage growth “despite external threats and attempts to influence it.”

The Russian president admitted that high inflation in Russia is a “worrying sign, but wanted to appear reassuring about the prospects for the Russian economy. Inflation is expected to be close to 9% at the end of the year, after nearly 7.5% in 2023 and 12% in 2022.

Referring to the Ukrainian front, the Russian president acknowledged that “the situation is changing dramatically, the advance continues across the front line. Russian troops are recapturing territories in square kilometers every day.”He added that the Russian army’s capabilities are constantly being strengthened, but refused to estimate how much longer the combat operations, which will soon turn three years old, will last.

At the same time, he also spoke about the Kursk front, expressing confidence that the Russian army will fully repel the Ukrainian troops that have been invading since August, but again without giving a precise timetable.“Everything will be restored in Kursk,” he said while describing the region as a “graveyard of NATO armaments.”

Speaking about the Oreshnik missile system, Putin said that“there is no chance that it can be shot down easily by anyone”, added that it was created based on developing the country’s defence capabilities, and replied “I honestly don’t know” when asked why the missile was so named. Indeed, describing the capabilities of the Oreshnik, the Russian president said: “Let’s make an experiment. Let’s let the West and Ukraine define an area in Kyiv, and concentrate all their air defense systems there, we will strike there with the Oreshnik and they will try to intercept it… Then let’s see what happens. There is no chance that it will be shot down or destroyed easily.”

At the same time, he called the defense of close ally Leukos a very important component of Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine.

Responding to an NBC reporter’s question about the assassination of General Igor Kirillov in Moscow, Putin noted that it was a terrorist attack carried out in a way that was dangerous for a large number of people. “We have not yet heard any condemnation of such terrorist attacks!” Putin said, leaving a spike for the West.

When asked about a possible meeting with Donald Trump and whether they have communicated, Putin said “I don’t know when we will meet, because he (and Trump) doesn’t say anything about it. I haven’t spoken to him at all for more than four years. I’m ready for it, of course, at any time, if we meet, I’m sure we will have a lot to talk about.”

Asked about the possible resumption of negotiations with Ukraine and Russia’s willingness to compromise, Putin said: “Politics is the art of compromise, Russia has always been ready for negotiations”, further stressing that in late 2022, agreements had already been reached with Kiev, but Boris Johnson, “the man with the strange haircut, forbade Ukraine to reach peace.