In annual address, Prez Putin boasts about gains in Ukraine

NEWS CONFERENCE MEANT TO REINFORCE RUSSIAN PREZ'S AUTHORITY

MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin boasted that his military operation in Ukraine has strengthened Russia and denied that the downfall of a key ally in Syria had dented Moscow's prestige, as he sought to project strength and ease at his annual news conference and call-in show Thursday.

As is typical, the Russian leader used the tightly choreographed event, which usually lasts hours, to reinforce his authority and demonstrate a sweeping command of everything from consumer prices to military hardware.

He claimed that nearly three years of fighting in Ukraine has hardened the Russian economy and the country's military and hailed his troops' gains there.

"Russia has become much stronger over the past two or three years because it has become a truly sovereign country," he said. "We are standing firm in terms of economy, we are strengthening our defense potential and our military capability now is the strongest in the world."

Putin, who has held power for nearly a quarter-century, said the military was "advancing toward achieving our goals" in what he calls the special military operation in Ukraine.