The Russian president, who gave the ousted Syrian leader asylum, also sought to reassure citizens tired of the war on Ukraine during his end-of-year news conference.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he plans to meet with deposed Syrian President Bashar Assad soon and will ask him about the whereabouts of missing American journalist Austin Tice. In his annual marathon press conference,

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to make a compromise regarding ending the war in Ukraine in possible talks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia should have launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine earlier and been better prepared for the war.In his end-of-year press conference on Thursday, Putin said with hindsight there should have been "systemic preparation" for the 2022 invasion,

Russia should have launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a year-end news conference Thursday.