Vladimir Putin Might Avoid Speaking to Public Amid Ukraine Disaster: Report

Russian President Vladimir Putin might avoid speaking to the public amid a string of military defeats in Ukraine, according to reports.

The Russian leader may not hold his annual big press conference next month—an event that has been taking place each year in December since 2012—two unnamed Kremlin sources told local business newspaper RBC.

Usual preparations for Putin's December annual press conference, as well as Putin's annual question and answer session, Direct Line with Vladimir Putin, "are not yet underway," the sources said.

One source reportedly said a final decision on the matter will consider the situation on the front line in Ukraine.

"The situation in the special military operation zone will be taken into account, among other things," the source said.

In August, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that in December, Putin's annual press conference could be combined with the question and answer session, Direct Line with Vladimir Putin, as was the case two years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Peskov said on Friday that no decision had been made yet on holding the event.

It comes as Putin faces a series of humiliating defeats in his war against Ukraine, which began in February.

On November 9, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu permitted a commander to withdraw troops from Kherson city.

Sergey Surovikin, who became the new head of Russia's forces in Ukraine in October, said last week that his troops would be retreating across the Dnieper River to "preserve the lives of our soldiers and the combat capability of the troop group."

Russia's withdrawal from Kherson last week marked the third major retreat by Putin's troops since the start of the war on February 24.

Kherson had been occupied by Russian forces since March, just days after the war began.

During a visit to Kherson on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked allies and the U.S., saying U.S.-supplied HIMARS weapons had made a big difference.

Zelensky also told the G-20 summit in Bali via video link on Tuesday that he believes Putin's war can "now be stopped," as he outlined a path to peace.

Among other measures, Zelensky said that Russia must agree to the territorial integrity of Ukraine, withdraw its troops from his country and pay compensation for damage caused by the invasion.

The Kremlin insisted on Monday that Kherson was still part of Russia.

Newsweek has reached out to Russia's foreign ministry for comment.