We will absolutely kick them out, says the president about the Ukrainian forces in Kursk during this year's edition of the televised press conference he usually holds just before Christmas.
But the question of a specific date, I cannot answer right now.
Several questions concern the crisis-ridden Russian economy – and the president admits that the country's high inflation is alarming. The Russian ruble is heavily weakened and the central bank is expected to raise interest rates further on Friday, in a new attempt to address price increases due to the war in Ukraine.
"Meaningless" to give a prognosis
But the situation is stable, claims Putin.
For the economy as a whole, Russia's situation is stable, despite external threats, he says.
Russia's war is costing more and more, while the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of soldiers has led to a significant shortage of labor. Putin, however, does not want to answer a reporter's question about when the war can be expected to end.
The battles are complicated and therefore it is difficult and meaningless to give a prognosis for the future, he says according to the news agency Efe.
Putin usually uses the annual press conference to reinforce his authority and demonstrate his total control over the country's political landscape, according to analysts.
Plans to meet with Assad
This year, he also takes the opportunity to challenge the USA to a "duel": Russia sends a robot of the new type Orsejnik towards Kyiv and sees if American air defense can stop it, suggests the president.
So we'll see what happens, he says with a smile.
On a question about the incoming US President Donald Trump, Putin says he is ready for a meeting "at any time".
Putin also reveals that he has not yet met with Syria's deposed dictator Bashar al-Assad, who has taken refuge in Russia since the regime's collapse earlier in December.
But I will do it. I will definitely talk to him, says Putin.
