During a lengthy press conference on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to assist in locating American journalist Austin Tice, who has been missing in Syria for twelve years. In a response to NBC News correspondent Keir Simmons, who attended the four-and-a-half hour session, Putin indicated he would raise the issue of Tice’s fate with Bashar al-Assad, the former Syrian dictator who recently fled to Russia following his regime’s ousting by rebels.
“I promise to ask this question,” Putin stated, noting he had not seen Assad since his arrival in Russia. He acknowledged Tice’s disappearance, saying, “A person went missing 12 years ago; we understand what situation was there back then.”
Throughout the conference, Putin addressed various topics, including the war in Ukraine, the economy, President Joe Biden, his potential successor Donald Trump, and the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Regarding Biden, Putin commented humorously on the president’s decision to pardon his son Hunter before his impending sentencing for federal gun charges and tax evasion. “It turned out that Biden is more of a human being,” he remarked.
When questioned about Trump, Putin dismissed concerns that he would be at a disadvantage in negotiations with the former president, asserting he was “ready for this.”
Putin claimed Russian forces were making advances in Ukraine, emphasizing the strength of Russia’s defense capabilities and military industry. While discussing a potential ceasefire, he stated that it would depend on whether the U.S. could persuade Kyiv, asserting, “We don’t need a ceasefire; we need a long-term peace.”
The annual press conference, characterized as much by spectacle as by news, featured journalists and attendees waving colorful signs to capture Putin’s attention, with Russian state media reporting that over 2 million questions were submitted by ordinary citizens before the event.
Credit: NBC News
