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Russian President Vladimir Putin's 12th annual press conference was staged in front of around 1,500 selected journalists in Moscow, many of whom wave signs to try to get their questions addressed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's 12th annual press conference was staged in front of around 1,500 selected journalists in Moscow, many of whom wave signs to try to get their questions addressed.

Live Blog: Putin's Annual Press Conference

The Russian president fields selected questions on domestic and international affairs, with the country showing signs it might pull out of recession in 2017 and Russia's military supporting Assad in Syria and separatists in eastern Ukraine.

-- At his press conference with selected journalists on December 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin downplayed U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's tweet on nuclear capabilities as "nothing new" but warned of the threat of a new arms race with the United States if any side develops antimissile systems.

-- Putin also paraphrased Trump on the election-hacking question, saying, "How would we know it was Russia ...[and not] someone lying on a sofa who did it?"

-- He vowed that the assassination this week of Russia's ambassador to Ankara, Andrei Karlov, would not damage Russia-Turkey ties.

-- Putin downplayed the possibility of an early Russian presidential election in 2017, saying, "It is possible, but inexpedient." He left open whether he would run for a fourth term.

-- Putin cited "reasons for optimism" on Russia's economy and an "overall positive dynamic" based on 0.6 percent economic contraction in 2016.

-- On doping in sports, Putin called it "unthinkable" that Russia had any state program for doping (despite mounting evidence in multiple reports from international athletic groups, including another damning announcement today).

* NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Moscow (GMT/UTC +3)

09:02 23.12.2016

Security has confiscated food, drinks and electronic cigarettes from those participating in the press conference. Responding to complaints, security are saying that this year “everything is very serious.”

09:04 23.12.2016

Here we go, the first question.

09:05 23.12.2016

President Vladimir Putin says he won't make a statement and that "we'll get straight down to work." First question goes to Radio Mayak about the state of the economy.

09:05 23.12.2016
09:07 23.12.2016

Putin says GDP fell 3.7 percent in 2015 and only about 0.6 percent in 2016, indicating the economy is recovering. Notes growth in machine-building, agriculture, and other sectors. "Dynamic is very good."

09:09 23.12.2016

Putin says best inflation rate in recent years was 6.1 percent in 2011, but that this year will "definitely" be less than 6 percent.

09:10 23.12.2016

Putin says budget deficit will be 3.7 percent in 2016, a little more than in 2015. Russia has a positive trade balance and has maintained its currency reserves (about $100 billion), he said. Hard currency reserves grew in 2016.

09:10 23.12.2016

Members of the National Liberation Movement (NOD), an ultranationalist, pro-Kremlin group, are present.

09:10 23.12.2016

Russian state broadcaster RT said this ahead of the presser today:

Putin will also speak on the US election results and his cautious optimism towards a possible rapprochement between Moscow and Washington. Earlier, Putin said he sees US President-elect Donald Trump in a positive light, stressing that Russia is ready to restore ties.

Trump himself has signalled that he wants dialogue as well, praising Putin as an influential and powerful leader.

09:11 23.12.2016

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