About the presidential elections
The Press Secretary to the President of Russia, Dmitriy Peskov, stated that the presidential elections in Russia remain part of the 2024 plan, with pre-election activities expected to begin at the appropriate moment. He affirmed that the electoral calendar was set for 2024 and hinted that any initial steps in the election process would proceed accordingly. Peskov noted that Vladimir Putin has never separated pre-election periods from non-election years, indicating there are no plans for 2023. He also underscored that moments of national significance call for heightened responsibility among the leader and all state actors, which keeps the Kremlin focused on delivering results efficiently in the year ahead.
About communication with journalists
Peskov acknowledged that the president’s interaction with the media will not resemble pre-pandemic patterns. The shift is tied to the pandemic’s lasting impact and evolving public health considerations.
“To be candid, it is unlikely to look exactly as it did before the pandemic. There are visible mutation processes and ongoing waves of influenza across various strains,” he stated. Peskov stressed that, given rising epidemiological risk, the president’s health has become a matter of state security, making precautionary measures prudent. He also mentioned that as viral waves ease, the president’s exchanges with the press are likely to become more open and flexible.
About Xi Jinping’s visit
Peskov noted that there is no fixed date for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia. “These details have not been determined yet. Diplomatic channels will guide the Kremlin’s formal invitation and scheduling,” he said. Earlier, during a video call on December 29, Vladimir Putin invited Xi to Moscow, with expectations that the visit would take place in the spring of the following year.
Peskov described the meeting between the two leaders as highly constructive and substantive, characterized by discussions on partnership and broad content.
About the crash of a rocket in Belarus
The appearance of a missile linked to the Ukrainian S-300 system in the Brest region of Belarus prompted concern in Moscow. Peskov called the development an event of serious concern not only for Russia but also for Belarus. He added that the two countries’ armies maintain close contact and share confidential information as part of ongoing coordination.
About Ukraine’s law on national minorities
The Kremlin has yet to review the new Ukrainian law on national minorities after its signing by Volodymyr Zelensky. Officials indicated a need to study the text, particularly provisions related to language rights in education for minority communities. The president’s spokesman noted unfamiliarity with some details and did not rush to judgments, stating that a careful examination is necessary.
The law signed by Zelensky is said to prohibit discrimination against national minorities and to guarantee equal civil, political, social, economic, cultural, and linguistic rights, while also allowing the state to impose certain limits on these rights where deemed appropriate.
About New Year’s greetings
Relations with governments deemed hostile are minimal, and Putin is not planning to extend New Year greetings to their leaders. Peskov explained that those interlocutors have not engaged in dialogue, and ongoing hostile actions justify avoiding such formal consolations. However, the Kremlin’s press service did acknowledge several leaders with positive New Year messages, including figures from Italy, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Germany, highlighting a selective approach to diplomacy during festive periods.