Putin is taking questions from ordinary Russians along with journalists as his reelection bid begins

Putin's end-of-year news conference in Moscow included questions from ordinary citizens, focusing on key themes such as the fighting in Ukraine, payments to soldiers and their families, and the economy. This year, Putin allowed international journalists to attend, despite his limited interaction with the foreign media since the conflict began. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's recent plea for more U.S. aid and weaponry adds to the significance of Putin's appearance, which is primarily aimed at a domestic audience and aims to reinforce his power ahead of the March election.