Putin sweats as Russians air grievances at media event

Kremlin leader grilled on poverty and stagnant economy

- MAIRA BUTT

Russian frustrations cut through a meticulously controlled marathon press conference delivered by Vladimir Putin yesterday, revealing the hardships facing ordinary people.

The 73-year-old president delivered his customary end-of-year address, fielding questions from a public grappling with a stagnant economy, squeezed by international sanctions after almost four years of relentless war with Ukraine.

It comes after the European Union agreed to offer Ukraine a massive €90bn (£79bn) interest-free loan to fund most of Volodymyr Zelensky's military needs for the next two years. EU leaders were unable to agree on a plan to use £185bn of Russian assets, an idea that Putin lashed out at as being akin to “daylight robbery” and the work of “burglars”.

But tensions were palpable within Russia, with the state of the economy at the top of the agenda.

One medical student expressed her concerns about starting a family when the “salaries of young experts is not great, and that does not allow you to create a family properly”. “We are losing young experts,” she said.

Putin responded with a description of the state-funded options and student loans available to young people, adding: “Getting an education or starting your career should not be the basis for postponing getting married or having children” - a response that seemed to indicate that he is out of touch with the realities facing his citizens.