For the first time in ten years, Russia's President Putin is not inviting people to the traditional annual press conference. According to the British MoD, the reason could be the anti-war sentiment widespread in Russia. The Kremlin may want to prevent an "unauthorized discussion".
The annual press conference by Russian President Vladimir Putin may have been canceled for fear of awkward questions, according to the British Ministry of Defense. The press conference has become an integral part of Putin's schedule and has often been used as an opportunity to demonstrate his alleged integrity, the ministry writes in its daily status report on Twitter.
"Although questions are usually checked in advance, the cancellation is likely due to increasing concerns about widespread anti-war sentiment in Russia," a statement from London said. Kremlin officials were certainly extremely sensitive to the possibility that an event with Putin could deviate into an "illicit discussion" about the "military special operation".
For the first time in ten years, Putin is not inviting the international media to the traditional annual press conference this December. "As for the big press conference, no, there won't be one until the New Year," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, according to the Interfax agency. He didn't give a reason.
The British Ministry of Defense has been publishing daily information on the course of the war since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine at the end of February, citing intelligence information. In doing so, the British government wants to both counter the Russian portrayal and keep allies in line. Moscow accuses London of a disinformation campaign.
