Over the course of the year, the Russian leadership has given mixed statements about the goals of the "special military operation" against Ukraine: At the beginning of the raid on February 24, President Vladimir Putin spoke of the "demilitarization" and "denazification" of Ukraine, but claimed that a The occupation of Ukrainian territories is "not part of our plans".

Reinhard Veser

Editor in Politics.

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Nicholas Zimmerman

Editor in Politics.

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In the autumn, Putin then described the annexation of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions as one of the achievements of the war.

The statements of his subordinates on the war aims varied between a "liberation of the Donbass" in eastern Ukraine and a "liberation" of the whole of Ukraine from its democratically elected leadership, which had been abused as "Nazis".

Also during his appearance before the Defense Ministry College on Wednesday, Putin gave no specifics on what is to be achieved in Ukraine, but said: "I have no doubt that all the goals that we set ourselves will necessarily be achieved." He assured that there are “no limits on funding” for the military: “The country, the government gives everything the army asks for.” Putin said that no “militarization of the country and the economy” was necessary for this.

Russia has such a level of development and such an economic structure "that we simply do not need to do anything superfluous to the detriment of the country, to the detriment of our people."

He announced that the military would be perfected and modernized “quietly, rhythmically, without any excitement”.

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Specifically, he said that, despite some delays, the Sarmat ICBM, which can be equipped with nuclear warheads, should soon be operational.

In addition, the frigate “Admiral of the Soviet Fleet Gorshkov” with the Zirkon hypersonic missiles should be put into service next year.

Russia can increase its potential on its own, while Ukraine will soon have nothing "except handouts," Putin said.

Most of the performance, heralded as an “important substantive speech” by his spokesman, consisted of repeating statements that Putin has been making regularly for years: the West has never accepted Russia, has been trying to disintegrate the country for centuries, in the 1990s and In the early noughties, attempts were made to “finish” Russia with the help of Islamist terrorists.

The conflict in Ukraine was inevitable because the West did not allow "re-establishing relations with this part of our former common country".

"Against Russia, the military potential and capabilities of practically all major NATO countries are being actively used," Putin said.