Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia should have launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine earlier and been better prepared for the conflict. In his year-end press conference on Thursday, Putin reflected that, with hindsight, the 2022 invasion—referred to as a "special military operation"—should have involved more "systemic preparation."

Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, and pro-Russian forces began a conflict in eastern Ukraine, but it wasn't until eight years later that Putin sought to take Kyiv.

During the four-hour press conference, Putin also discussed topics such as Syria's ousted leader, Russia's more assertive nuclear doctrine, and domestic issues, including rising butter prices.

Titled "Results of the Year with Vladimir Putin," the event was broadcast live on major state TV channels. Putin appeared before a large blue screen featuring a map of the Russian Federation, including annexed Ukrainian territories. He took questions from the public, foreign journalists, and pensioners, though the event was highly choreographed and tightly controlled.

When asked by BBC Russia editor Steve Rosenberg if he believed Russia was in a better position than it was 25 years ago under his predecessor, Boris Yeltsin, Putin responded that Russia had regained its "sovereignty." He added that, given the situation at the time, Russia was heading toward a complete loss of sovereignty.