The annual event gives ordinary Russians a chance to question their leader, with queries expected on an end to the Ukraine war and boosting the economy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s end-of-year Q&A session is likely to send a signal to the United States and European powers over his appetite for peace or more war in Ukraine.

Kozak, a longtime Kremlin official who had worked with Putin for three decades, was instructed to demand Ukraine’s surrender, according to people close to him. Kozak declined. He told the president that he did not understand the objective of the war and could not negotiate without knowing what Russia was trying to achieve.

The annual news conference sets the Kremlin’s tone for the next year and highlights President Vladimir V. Putin’s grip over Russia.

Putin's 'hundreds of millions of pounds a-day' war machine eats up Moscow's war budget almost as fast as he sacrifices 1,000 troops a-day - but Ukraine faces bitter winter

EU Council president Antonio Costa says loan will cover Ukraine's military and economic needs for next two years

Dmitri N. Kozak had worked with President Vladimir V. Putin for three decades before quitting in September. His associates described his break with the Russian leader.

European officials are trying to convince a handful of EU member countries to back controversial plans for providing more financial support to Ukraine.