In his end-of-year speech, Putin stated that Ukraine would be willing to engage in dialogue, but he mocked Zelensky's actions, calling him a talented artist.

Vladimir Putin delivered a year-end speech on Friday, in which he discussed the situation in Ukraine and the economy of Russia. He stated that Russian authorities have received signals that Ukraine would be willing to engage in dialogue to end the war, but not to resolve territorial issues. Putin emphasized that Russia is ready to end the conflict peacefully, according to the principles established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He also praised the territorial gains of the Russian army, mentioning that troops are advancing on the front. In an ironic note, he also referred to Zelensky as a talented artist, commenting on his visit to Kupiansk, a town that Putin claims was captured by Russian forces, where the Ukrainian president was caught next to a city sign. Additionally, Putin stated that the Russian economy is stable, reporting a 1% growth in the previous year.