Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday (December 19, 2025) that Moscow's troops were advancing across the battlefield in Ukraine, voicing confidence that the Kremlin's military goals would be achieved nearly four years after he ordered troops into the neighbouring country.
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Speaking at his year-end news conference, Mr. Putin declared that Russian forces have “fully seized strategic initiative” and would make more gains by the year's end.
In the early days of the conflict in 2022, Ukraine's forces managed to thwart an attempt by Russia's larger, better-equipped army, to capture the capital of Kyiv. But the fighting soon settled into grinding battles, and Moscow's troops have made slow but steady progress over the years.
Mr. Putin frequently touts this progress — even though it is not the lightning advance many expected.
