Russian President Vladimir Putin canceled his annual end-of-year press conference for the first time in 10 years amid the military operation in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
“As for the big press conference, yes, it won't happen before the New Year,” Peskov told reporters. “But we hope that the president will still find an opportunity to talk with [journalists], as he regularly does, including during foreign [visits].”
Peskov did not provide a reason for breaking the tradition, but media outlets claimed that it might be due to the Russian military operation in Ukraine.
Last November, the Kremlin spokesperson pointed out that the dates of Putin's annual news conference and other key events would be known after the date of the address to the Federal Assembly was set.
The Russian leader, who has been in power since 2000, held a press conference with Russian and foreign journalists in December on most years of his rule, answering questions on an array of topics related to Russia's domestic and foreign policy.
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