Vladimir Putin cancels annual press conference as Russian forces suffer setbacks in Ukraine

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this year’s speech would not go ahead, but “we hope the president will after all find an opportunity to talk”.

Vladimir Putin has cancelled his annual hours-long press conference as Russian forces continue to suffer setbacks in Ukraine.

The Russian tyrant holds an event every year in which he takes hours and hours of questions from the media, giving full answers on all matters in an attempt to win over the public.

However, most issues raised are often flattering of Putin and the press conference is seen by outsiders to be stage-managed.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this year’s speech would not go ahead, but “we hope the president will after all find an opportunity to talk”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Photo by Mikhail Metzel / SPUTNIK / AFP)

“Regarding the big press conference, yes, it won’t happen before the New Year,” Peskov said.

There have been suggestions that the tide of public opinion in Russia could be turning against Putin following his disastrous invasion of Ukraine.

What was meant to be a short march to Kyiv to claim control of the eastern European nation has turned into a prolonged war with hundreds of thousands of casualties.

Meanwhile the Kremlin said on Tuesday there could be no progress in resolving the Ukraine conflict unless Kyiv recognises occupied territories as Russian.

Peskov also brushed off Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s proposal that Russia begin pulling out troops this Christmas.

“The Ukrainian side needs to take into account the realities that have developed on the ground,” Peskov told reporters.

Russia's president Vladimir Putin has cancelled his annual big speech. (Photo by Sergei BOBYLYOV / SPUTNIK / AFP)

“These realities show that the Russian Federation has new territories,” he added.

“Without taking into account these realities, any progress is impossible.”

Moscow claims to have annexed four southern and eastern Ukrainian regions - Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson - despite not controlling them fully.

In November, Moscow pulled out of the main city of Kherson but continues to control most of the wider Kherson region.

Addressing G7 nations on Monday, Zelensky urged Russia to prove it is capable of renouncing “aggression” and to begin withdrawing troops from Ukraine this Christmas.

The Kremlin rejected the offer on Tuesday.

“It’s out of the question,” Peskov said.

Zelensky has also called for extra weapons for Ukraine as well as for economic help.

Peskov said these demands would ensure a continuation of fighting.

Putin sent troops to Ukraine on February 24, saying the pro-Western country must be “demilitarised”.