Russian President Vladimir Putin is making extensive preparations for his highly anticipated annual televised question-and-answer program, an event that has become a hallmark of his public communication strategy and a carefully staged display of leadership. This year’s forum unfolds against a backdrop of mounting public anxiety and shifting national priorities. A newly released survey by the independent Levada Center reveals that Russian citizens remain persistently preoccupied with two overarching issues that dominate both private conversations and national discourse: the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the faltering domestic economy.
According to the Levada poll, which was conducted among a representative sample of 1,608 Russian residents, the majority of respondents expressed a strong desire to seek clarity from Putin on two pressing concerns. Foremost among these is the lingering question of when the fighting — officially referred to by the Kremlin as a “special military operation” in Ukraine — might finally conclude. Approximately one in five survey participants indicated that, given the chance, they would directly ask the president about the endgame of the war, a sign of widespread fatigue after years of sustained military engagement, economic disruption, and uncertainty about the future. Closely following that concern is a pervasive unease about living standards and financial hardship: sixteen percent of respondents stated that their principal question would focus on how ordinary citizens are meant to endure the steady erosion of incomes, pensions, and essential social benefits as the economy shows signs of strain.
These two dominant themes — the war and the economy — have consistently topped Levada’s pre-session surveys for three consecutive years, underscoring the fact that Russian public opinion remains remarkably stable in its areas of greatest anxiety. In addition to these headline concerns, a smaller yet significant portion of respondents also voiced apprehension about other aspects of daily life. Eight percent said they would ask Putin about the recent rise in prices and tax increases, while six percent cited issues related to utilities and the quality of social services. Another five percent expressed a wish to discuss the country’s healthcare system, a sector that has struggled under the combined weight of inflation and redirected state resources. These figures cumulatively paint a picture of a population grappling with tangible economic pressures, set against the macroeconomic reality of a nation sustaining heavy wartime expenditure.
This growing sense of unease coincides with an economic environment marked by persistently high inflation and a budget increasingly dominated by defense spending. The Kremlin continues to allocate vast sums toward the military effort, a practice that now competes directly with social spending priorities. Putin’s forthcoming televised “Direct Line” session, scheduled for Friday, thus takes on heightened significance. The broadcast comes nearly four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine — an action that provoked sweeping sanctions from Western nations, disrupted trade relations, and forced the state to adopt a wartime economic model that privileges security imperatives over consumer welfare.
Since those pivotal events of February 2022, Moscow’s economic policy has been reshaped to sustain military operations while mitigating the impact of international isolation. Massive state-directed investment in defense industries and infrastructure projects has maintained headline growth figures and preserved a semblance of macroeconomic stability, even as sanctions and export restrictions have forced Russia to reconfigure its trade flows. Yet beneath these surface indicators, structural weaknesses remain visible. Revenue from energy exports — long the bedrock of the Russian state’s financial power — has declined as global oil prices have softened, while stubbornly high inflation continues to erode purchasing power and weaken domestic demand.
Observers of past “Direct Line” broadcasts note that these marathons of televised interaction often provide insights into how Putin manages public discontent within a tightly controlled media environment. Previous sessions, which have sometimes lasted several hours, demonstrate his rhetorical approach: acknowledging public frustration in broad terms while carefully diverting blame or reframing responsibility. In last year’s exchange, for instance, the president admitted that the national economy was “overheating” under pressure from rapid price growth and escalating credit, warning citizens to prepare for continued inflationary strain. Nonetheless, he deflected accountability, hinting that both the Central Bank and the federal government—headed by the prime minister—might have taken stronger or swifter corrective measures to contain the overheated economic dynamics.
As Friday approaches, Putin is also expected to convene his traditional end-of-year press conference, an event likely to command global attention. Analysts predict that this dual format — combining direct questions from citizens with formal exchanges with the press — will serve as a stage for any subtle policy signals or rhetorical cues regarding the course of the war and the state’s near-term economic outlook. For many Russians, weary from both the cost of conflict and the relentless rise in living expenses, these public appearances offer rare glimpses of acknowledgment from the nation’s leader, even if the answers themselves remain carefully managed and politically calibrated.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-putin-direct-line-question-answer-ukraine-war-fatigue-2025-12
