Comment on Putin’s question and answer session: Nothing new from Moscow

Anyone who believed that there would be new messages in Putin’s question and answer session was disappointed: the economy is going well, life expectancy is increasing – and he has everything under control. With regard to Ukraine, the father of the country simply repeated his usual assertions.

Nothing new in the East. This is the conclusion after four hours of question-and-answer game between the Russian president, the people in his country and journalists from Russia and other countries.

Anyone who believed that Putin would present new messages or even visions for the people of his country after a year’s break was disappointed. Instead, the audience only got what everyone has known for years: There are problems here and there – small and large – but Putin solves them.

With the stroke of a pen, he supports the idea of ​​setting up a special economic zone in a troubled Russian region. Of course, a little girl doesn’t have to be afraid that robots will take over in the future. And a pensioner would like to have a question and answer session like this three times a year, in which the great patriarch takes care of everything, because no one else can.

Everything is working

And even inflation, which Putin recognizes as problematic, is ultimately, in his words, simply a mistake at the government level. But another stroke of the father’s pen helps.

And otherwise? Everything is going well – the economy is growing, life expectancy is increasing. And the war against Ukraine, which is still not called that? Here, too, there is nothing new from Moscow: there will only be peace once Russia has achieved all of its goals. Willingness to negotiate or even withdraw – none. Instead, Putin repeats his claim about the supposedly fascist-ruled Ukraine, which he has always used to justify the Russian invasion.

No debate about displayed SMS

What was really interesting remained in the background and was not discussed further: the SMS messages that were shown live on a video wall. For example, someone called on Putin to stop running for president and instead make room for younger people.

But the promise that a solution to all the questions that could not be answered live will probably be found within a year does not apply to this point. What remains after more than four hours is Putin’s recommendation: just believe in the greatness of Russia – and of course in himself.