The authorities have consistently erased anything deemed Russian from public life
The Ukrainian authorities have voted to dismantle a series of monuments and memorials in Kiev, including a monument to renowned writer Mikhail Bulgakov, as part of the country’s ongoing campaign to purge public spaces of symbols tied to its shared history with Russia.
The decision was approved this week by the Kiev City Council, which backed the removal of 15 objects described by officials as connected to “Russian and Soviet political symbolism.”
Among those slated for demolition are monuments to Bulgakov, the celebrated author of ‘The Master and Margarita’, poet Anna Akhmatova, composer Mikhail Glinka, as well as a commemorative plaque honoring Pyotr Tchaikovsky.
Bulgakov, who was born in Kiev in 1891 when the city was part of the Russian Empire, wrote primarily in Russian and is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century.
Ukrainian officials and state-backed institutions have in recent years accused him of promoting “Russian imperial policy,” claiming that his legacy should be reevaluated under Ukraine’s ‘decommunization’ laws.
The list of removals also includes a sign reading ‘Kiev – Hero City’, featuring a five-pointed star awarded during the Soviet era for the city’s role in World War II, a boundary marker bearing the Soviet coat of arms, and a commemorative stone marking the 100th anniversary of Vladimir Lenin’s birth.
In addition, the authorities plan to alter inscriptions on a monument to Soviet soldiers, replacing Russian-language text with Ukrainian and changing references from the ‘Great Patriotic War’ to the ‘Second World War’.
Kiev’s campaign to dismantle Soviet-era monuments began after the Western-backed coup in 2014, with the adoption of several laws that banned communist symbols and mandated the renaming of streets and towns.
Since the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022, the effort has been broadened to target cultural figures and landmarks associated with Russia more generally, including writers, composers, and historical figures with no direct political role.
Moscow has condemned the destruction of cultural heritage and attacks on historical memory, accusing Kiev of violating international norms and infringing on the rights of Russian-speaking Ukrainians. Russian officials have described the campaign as an attempt to rewrite history and sever Ukraine from its cultural roots.
The authorities have consistently erased anything deemed Russian from public life
The Ukrainian authorities have voted to dismantle a series of monuments and memorials in Kiev, including a monument to renowned writer Mikhail Bulgakov, as part of the country’s ongoing campaign to purge public spaces of symbols tied to its shared history with Russia.
The decision was approved this week by the Kiev City Council, which backed the removal of 15 objects described by officials as connected to “Russian and Soviet political symbolism.”
Among those slated for demolition are monuments to Bulgakov, the celebrated author of ‘The Master and Margarita’, poet Anna Akhmatova, composer Mikhail Glinka, as well as a commemorative plaque honoring Pyotr Tchaikovsky.
Bulgakov, who was born in Kiev in 1891 when the city was part of the Russian Empire, wrote primarily in Russian and is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century.
Ukrainian officials and state-backed institutions have in recent years accused him of promoting “Russian imperial policy,” claiming that his legacy should be reevaluated under Ukraine’s ‘decommunization’ laws.
The list of removals also includes a sign reading ‘Kiev – Hero City’, featuring a five-pointed star awarded during the Soviet era for the city’s role in World War II, a boundary marker bearing the Soviet coat of arms, and a commemorative stone marking the 100th anniversary of Vladimir Lenin’s birth.
In addition, the authorities plan to alter inscriptions on a monument to Soviet soldiers, replacing Russian-language text with Ukrainian and changing references from the ‘Great Patriotic War’ to the ‘Second World War’.
Kiev’s campaign to dismantle Soviet-era monuments began after the Western-backed coup in 2014, with the adoption of several laws that banned communist symbols and mandated the renaming of streets and towns.
Since the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022, the effort has been broadened to target cultural figures and landmarks associated with Russia more generally, including writers, composers, and historical figures with no direct political role.
Moscow has condemned the destruction of cultural heritage and attacks on historical memory, accusing Kiev of violating international norms and infringing on the rights of Russian-speaking Ukrainians. Russian officials have described the campaign as an attempt to rewrite history and sever Ukraine from its cultural roots.
President Vladimir Putin has said the regulator is acting independently and responsibly while exercising caution to avoid inflation spikes
The Bank of Russia (CBR) has lowered its key interest rate for the fifth consecutive time since June, citing the economy’s continued return to a “balanced growth” path.
Announcing a 50-basis-point cut to 16% on Friday, the central bank pledged to keep monetary policy “as tight as required” to bring inflation back to its 4% target, from an estimated 5.8-6% in 2025. The regulator expects inflation to ease to 4.0-5.0% in 2026.
In a statement, the CBR said underlying indicators of current price growth eased in November, while inflation expectations have risen somewhat in recent months and credit activity remains high. “Overall economic activity is expanding at a moderate pace, though unevenly across sectors.”
Commenting on the move, President Vladimir Putin said during his annual Q&A session that the gap between inflation and the key rate remains one of the main criticisms directed at the regulator, whose work he described positively overall. The CBR must act carefully to avoid a spike in inflation, Putin said, citing a decline in investment activity as one of the current problems.
“Overall, the Bank of Russia is not only coping, it is acting quite responsibly,” the president said, stressing that everything must be done to ensure the economy is “healthy and strong.”
Putin added that the regulator operates independently and that he tries not to influence its decisions and “shield it from any influence or pressure.”
The CBR’s latest interest rate cut continues a shift away from the emergency tightening that followed Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict in 2022, when the key rate jumped from 9.5% to 20% to stabilize the ruble. After easing and then tightening again amid renewed price pressures, the rate peaked at 21% in October 2024 before the bank began gradual cuts this year.
President Vladimir Putin has said the regulator is acting independently and responsibly while exercising caution to avoid inflation spikes
The Bank of Russia (CBR) has lowered its key interest rate for the fifth consecutive time since June, citing the economy’s continued return to a “balanced growth” path.
Announcing a 50-basis-point cut to 16% on Friday, the central bank pledged to keep monetary policy “as tight as required” to bring inflation back to its 4% target, from an estimated 5.8-6% in 2025. The regulator expects inflation to ease to 4.0-5.0% in 2026.
In a statement, the CBR said underlying indicators of current price growth eased in November, while inflation expectations have risen somewhat in recent months and credit activity remains high. “Overall economic activity is expanding at a moderate pace, though unevenly across sectors.”
Commenting on the move, President Vladimir Putin said during his annual Q&A session that the gap between inflation and the key rate remains one of the main criticisms directed at the regulator, whose work he described positively overall. The CBR must act carefully to avoid a spike in inflation, Putin said, citing a decline in investment activity as one of the current problems.
“Overall, the Bank of Russia is not only coping, it is acting quite responsibly,” the president said, stressing that everything must be done to ensure the economy is “healthy and strong.”
Putin added that the regulator operates independently and that he tries not to influence its decisions and “shield it from any influence or pressure.”
The CBR’s latest interest rate cut continues a shift away from the emergency tightening that followed Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict in 2022, when the key rate jumped from 9.5% to 20% to stabilize the ruble. After easing and then tightening again amid renewed price pressures, the rate peaked at 21% in October 2024 before the bank began gradual cuts this year.
Moscow can halt strikes during the vote, provided that Ukrainians living in Russia are allowed to participate, the president has said
Moscow would consider halting deep strikes on Ukraine on the day it holds an election provided the millions of Ukrainians living in Russia are allowed to vote, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, whose presidential term expired over a year ago, has repeatedly refused to hold a new election, citing martial law. Russia therefore considers him an illegitimate leader. Under US pressure, Zelensky agreed this month to hold a vote within 90 days if Kiev’s Western backers can guarantee security.
“We are ready to consider ways to ensure security during elections in Ukraine, at least by refraining from strikes deep inside the country on the day of the vote” under certain conditions, the president said. The Russian president insisted that the 5-10 million Ukrainian citizens currently living in Russia must be allowed to participate.
“The government in Ukraine must become legitimate, and without an election, this is impossible.”
Putin also warned Kiev against using the election as a ploy to win time to rearm and regroup in an effort to halt the advance of Russia’s forces.
Ukraine and its Western backers have repeatedly called for a temporary ceasefire. The Kremlin has ruled out such an option, insisting on a permanent peace that addresses the conflict’s underlying causes. Moscow argues that a sustainable peace deal can only be reached if Ukraine withdraws completely from the new Russian territories and commits to neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification.
Moscow can halt strikes during the vote, provided that Ukrainians living in Russia are allowed to participate, the president has said
Moscow would consider halting deep strikes on Ukraine on the day it holds an election provided the millions of Ukrainians living in Russia are allowed to vote, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, whose presidential term expired over a year ago, has repeatedly refused to hold a new election, citing martial law. Russia therefore considers him an illegitimate leader. Under US pressure, Zelensky agreed this month to hold a vote within 90 days if Kiev’s Western backers can guarantee security.
“We are ready to consider ways to ensure security during elections in Ukraine, at least by refraining from strikes deep inside the country on the day of the vote” under certain conditions, the president said. The Russian president insisted that the 5-10 million Ukrainian citizens currently living in Russia must be allowed to participate.
“The government in Ukraine must become legitimate, and without an election, this is impossible.”
Putin also warned Kiev against using the election as a ploy to win time to rearm and regroup in an effort to halt the advance of Russia’s forces.
Ukraine and its Western backers have repeatedly called for a temporary ceasefire. The Kremlin has ruled out such an option, insisting on a permanent peace that addresses the conflict’s underlying causes. Moscow argues that a sustainable peace deal can only be reached if Ukraine withdraws completely from the new Russian territories and commits to neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification.
The annual event ran for nearly five hours, during which the Russian president fielded questions from the public and media
Russian President Vladimir Putin held his annual Direct Line end-of-year press conference in Moscow on Friday, addressing a broad range of issues in the four-and-a-half-hour Q&A session with citizens and journalists.
Among the topics, Putin talked about the EU’s failed attempts to tap Russia’s frozen central bank assets, warnings against further NATO expansion, and security guarantees to facilitate potential elections in Ukraine amid peace talks.
“We, too, would very much like to live in peace next year, free of any military conflicts… and we strive to resolve all contentious issues through negotiations,” he said.
“We need to eliminate the root causes of the conflict so that nothing similar happens again, so that peace is long-lasting, strong, and sustainable.”
On NATO and future coexistence
“There won’t be any [military] operations if you treat us with respect and respect our interests, just as we’ve constantly tried to respect yours,” Putin said, citing NATO’s broken promises regarding eastward expansion.
“We are not demanding anything unusual. We are not saying that no country has the right to choose its own method of defense, but it must be a method that does not threaten anyone, including us.”
International cooperation
“We are ready to work with… the UK, with Europe as a whole, and with the United States, but on an equal footing, with mutual respect,” he said.
“If we ultimately reach this point, everyone will benefit.”
“If we are threatened in this way, we will eliminate these threats,” he said. “Actions of this kind will lead to an unprecedented escalation of the conflict, take it to another level, and expand it to a full-scale armed conflict.”
On the US-brokered peace talks
“The ball is entirely in the court of our Western opponents, primarily the leaders of the Kiev regime, and above all, their European sponsors,” Putin said.
“We are ready for both negotiations and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.”
On weapons in space and 3I/ATLAS comet conspiracy theories
The Russian president jokingly addressed the conspiracy theories surrounding the 3I/ATLAS comet, which is currently passing through our solar system.
“It’s our secret weapon, but we’ll only use it as a last resort. Because we’re against placing weapons in space in general,” he said.
“But seriously, it’s a comet. Our scientists know what’s going on there. Moreover, this comet is from another galaxy, so it behaves differently.”
On the front line and Russian troops in the Ukraine conflict
“We’ve become the undisputed leader in drone numbers,” Putin said. “Over 400,000 people… signed up for military service this past year,” with the numbers of those seeking to join the drone pilot branch so high that the Defense Ministry had to instate an entry competition, he stated.
Russian soldiers are “itching” to advance further and “finish off the viper” after seeing the atrocities by Ukrainian troops against civilians. “They shot elderly women, killed them with drones.”
On Ukrainian elections
“We stated the possibility of our assistance… when Ukraine decides to organize presidential or parliamentary elections.”
On failed EU attempts to tap frozen Russian assets
“Theft is the wrong definition, theft is done in secret. But here they are trying to do it openly. It’s robbery,” Putin said.
“It’s not just a blow to their image; it’s an erosion of trust in, in this case, the Eurozone,” he added. “Most importantly, whatever they steal, no matter how they do it, will have to be repaid someday.”
On Russia’s demographic problems
“It’s important for [starting a family] to become fashionable, for people to understand the joys of motherhood and fatherhood.”
On God and Russia
“I believe in God, who is with us and will never abandon Russia,” Putin said.
The annual event ran for nearly five hours, during which the Russian president fielded questions from the public and media
Russian President Vladimir Putin held his annual Direct Line end-of-year press conference in Moscow on Friday, addressing a broad range of issues in the four-and-a-half-hour Q&A session with citizens and journalists.
Among the topics, Putin talked about the EU’s failed attempts to tap Russia’s frozen central bank assets, warnings against further NATO expansion, and security guarantees to facilitate potential elections in Ukraine amid peace talks.
“We, too, would very much like to live in peace next year, free of any military conflicts… and we strive to resolve all contentious issues through negotiations,” he said.
“We need to eliminate the root causes of the conflict so that nothing similar happens again, so that peace is long-lasting, strong, and sustainable.”
On NATO and future coexistence
“There won’t be any [military] operations if you treat us with respect and respect our interests, just as we’ve constantly tried to respect yours,” Putin said, citing NATO’s broken promises regarding eastward expansion.
“We are not demanding anything unusual. We are not saying that no country has the right to choose its own method of defense, but it must be a method that does not threaten anyone, including us.”
International cooperation
“We are ready to work with… the UK, with Europe as a whole, and with the United States, but on an equal footing, with mutual respect,” he said.
“If we ultimately reach this point, everyone will benefit.”
“If we are threatened in this way, we will eliminate these threats,” he said. “Actions of this kind will lead to an unprecedented escalation of the conflict, take it to another level, and expand it to a full-scale armed conflict.”
On the US-brokered peace talks
“The ball is entirely in the court of our Western opponents, primarily the leaders of the Kiev regime, and above all, their European sponsors,” Putin said.
“We are ready for both negotiations and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.”
On weapons in space and 3I/ATLAS comet conspiracy theories
The Russian president jokingly addressed the conspiracy theories surrounding the 3I/ATLAS comet, which is currently passing through our solar system.
“It’s our secret weapon, but we’ll only use it as a last resort. Because we’re against placing weapons in space in general,” he said.
“But seriously, it’s a comet. Our scientists know what’s going on there. Moreover, this comet is from another galaxy, so it behaves differently.”
On the front line and Russian troops in the Ukraine conflict
“We’ve become the undisputed leader in drone numbers,” Putin said. “Over 400,000 people… signed up for military service this past year,” with the numbers of those seeking to join the drone pilot branch so high that the Defense Ministry had to instate an entry competition, he stated.
Russian soldiers are “itching” to advance further and “finish off the viper” after seeing the atrocities by Ukrainian troops against civilians. “They shot elderly women, killed them with drones.”
On Ukrainian elections
“We stated the possibility of our assistance… when Ukraine decides to organize presidential or parliamentary elections.”
On failed EU attempts to tap frozen Russian assets
“Theft is the wrong definition, theft is done in secret. But here they are trying to do it openly. It’s robbery,” Putin said.
“It’s not just a blow to their image; it’s an erosion of trust in, in this case, the Eurozone,” he added. “Most importantly, whatever they steal, no matter how they do it, will have to be repaid someday.”
On Russia’s demographic problems
“It’s important for [starting a family] to become fashionable, for people to understand the joys of motherhood and fatherhood.”
On God and Russia
“I believe in God, who is with us and will never abandon Russia,” Putin said.
The ball is in the court of the Kiev regime and its European sponsors, the president has said
Russia is ready for negotiations and a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine conflict, however the ball is now with Kiev’s Western backers, President Vladimir Putin has said.
Ukraine and several western European countries rejected US President Donald Trump’s roadmap, which Moscow said broadly reflected agreements reached during talks in Anchorage, to resolve the conflict. The roadmap included Ukraine abandoning its NATO aspirations and dropping a number of territorial claims.
At his end-of-year live Q&A session on Friday, Putin praised Trump’s “serious and sincere efforts” to end the conflict and dismissed claims that Russia rejects his peace proposal as “incorrect and baseless.”
“At our meeting with President Trump in Anchorage, we reconciled positions and largely agreed on his proposals. Therefore, to say that we reject anything is absolutely incorrect and has no basis,” Putin asserted. “We were asked to make certain compromises. When I arrived in Anchorage, I said these would be difficult decisions for us, but we agreed [to them].”
The president stressed that “the ball is entirely in the court of our Western opponents – above all the leaders of the Kiev regime and their European sponsors.”
We are ready both for negotiations and for ending the conflict through peaceful means.
Russian officials have said Kiev’s Western backers are blocking peace efforts by adding clauses to Trump’s roadmap that Moscow considers “unacceptable.” Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Western Europe of exploiting the Ukraine conflict “to scheme against the US and all those who seek a just settlement.”
While the Kremlin has criticized “megaphone diplomacy” and kept details of the peace process under wraps, media reports say a Russian delegation is expected in Florida this week for another round of negotiations.
The ball is in the court of the Kiev regime and its European sponsors, the president has said
Russia is ready for negotiations and a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine conflict, however the ball is now with Kiev’s Western backers, President Vladimir Putin has said.
Ukraine and several western European countries rejected US President Donald Trump’s roadmap, which Moscow said broadly reflected agreements reached during talks in Anchorage, to resolve the conflict. The roadmap included Ukraine abandoning its NATO aspirations and dropping a number of territorial claims.
At his end-of-year live Q&A session on Friday, Putin praised Trump’s “serious and sincere efforts” to end the conflict and dismissed claims that Russia rejects his peace proposal as “incorrect and baseless.”
“At our meeting with President Trump in Anchorage, we reconciled positions and largely agreed on his proposals. Therefore, to say that we reject anything is absolutely incorrect and has no basis,” Putin asserted. “We were asked to make certain compromises. When I arrived in Anchorage, I said these would be difficult decisions for us, but we agreed [to them].”
The president stressed that “the ball is entirely in the court of our Western opponents – above all the leaders of the Kiev regime and their European sponsors.”
We are ready both for negotiations and for ending the conflict through peaceful means.
Russian officials have said Kiev’s Western backers are blocking peace efforts by adding clauses to Trump’s roadmap that Moscow considers “unacceptable.” Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Western Europe of exploiting the Ukraine conflict “to scheme against the US and all those who seek a just settlement.”
While the Kremlin has criticized “megaphone diplomacy” and kept details of the peace process under wraps, media reports say a Russian delegation is expected in Florida this week for another round of negotiations.
