Vladimir Putin scared? Russian president ‘clears his schedule' to concentrate on this | World News

Russian president Vladimir Putin delayed his conventional televised call-in present which usually happens presently of yr as Moscow prepares for Ukraine's counteroffensive, Russia's Kommersant newspaper reported. This comes as Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned that Kyiv's counteroffensive operations have been underway, whereas remaining resistant on sharing particulars.

Responding to Vladimir Putin's message that Ukrainian forces had actually begun their counteroffensive, Zelensky asserted, "Counteroffensive and defensive actions are happening in Ukraine, however I can't say intimately what stage they're at" itemizing Ukraine's prime navy brass by identify.

The Direct Line with Vladimir Putin occasion often takes place in June yearly giving an opportunity to Russian residents to name in and ask their president about points that affect their each day lives. Final yr, the Russian president had additionally scrapped the call-in. It was broadly assumed then that the choice was taken owing to Russia's invasion in Ukraine.

Kommersant reported that the call-in present was anticipated to happen this summer season, however the determination was made lately to delay it. Jason Jay Sensible—a political adviser on post-Soviet and worldwide politics advised Newsweek that he believes Vladimir Putin might be suspending the present as a result of he fears Russia will endure extra setbacks.

“Putin acknowledges that the counteroffensive may undermine no matter he says publicly to residents. Delaying it permits him to make use of the occasion, later, to justify why Russia is shedding territory in Ukraine,” Jason Sensible mentioned.

The decision-in occasion may nonetheless happen this yr, maybe in November or December, the newspaper reported including that this timing would enable Vladimir Putin to take calls from the Russian public earlier than the doable announcement of his 2024 presidential reelection marketing campaign.

In April, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned the present would possible be held on an unspecified date in June.

"As for the Direct Line, we mentioned that as quickly as we determine, we are going to announce the dates. To date, as you understand, we have not introduced any dates. We're quietly making ready for it, little by little. We will definitely inform you when the time comes," Dmitry Peskov had mentioned as per Tass.