Putin's promise after 25 years in power

 

Vladimir Putin
Putin's New Year's speech: "Everything will be fine"

Nora Fernstedt

Updated 18.34 | Published 17.37

Vladimir Putin did not mention the invasion of Ukraine in his New Year's speech.

However, he spoke highly of the country's progress over the past 25 years - the same length of time he has been in power.

- We will only continue to move forward, Putin said, according to Reuters.

The speech was given exactly 25 years after Vladimir Putin, 72, took over as president after Boris Yeltsin's resignation.

He assured Russians that their well-being is his top priority, writes Reuters. He spoke of the trials and goals that have strengthened the country over the past 25 years.

- And now, as we stand on the threshold of the new year, we are thinking about the future. We are convinced that everything will be fine, we will just keep moving forward, Putin said.

Paying tribute to the soldiers

He described Russia's soldiers in Ukraine as heroes.

- We are proud of your courage, we believe in you, he said.

But he did not explicitly mention Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which is entering its third year, or what the conditions are for ending the war.

US President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly said that he will bring about a "quick" end to the war when he takes office on January 20.