Putin uses New Year address for wartime rallying cry to Russians - Reuters

Dec 31 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin devoted his yearly New Year's code connected Saturday to rallying the Russian radical down his troops warring successful Ukraine and pledging triumph implicit Ukrainian "neo-Nazis" and a West supposedly intent connected "destroying Russia".

In a stern and combative recorded video message, broadcast connected nationalist television, Putin formed the warfare - which helium calls a "special subject operation" - arsenic a near-existential combat for the aboriginal of Russia.

Its soldiers, helium said, were warring for "our motherland, information and justness ... truthful that Russia's information tin beryllium guaranteed".

For months, the Kremlin presented the struggle arsenic a constricted run that would not impact astir Russians' lives.

But the speech, delivered successful beforehand of grim-faced soldiers successful combat uniform, enactment the warfare squarely centre-stage, telling families gathered for the year's main solemnisation that the months up would necessitate enactment and sacrifice from everyone.

The connection was being broadcast into millions of homes connected authorities TV conscionable earlier the clocks struck midnight successful each of Russia's 11 clip zones, arsenic families tucked into a festive repast and exchanged gifts.

As the warfare drags into its 11th period with nary extremity successful sight, the Kremlin has dilatory enactment nine connected much of a warfare footing - calling up much than 300,000 reservists, often successful chaotic fashion, retooling an system wounded by a barrage of Western sanctions and saying publically that the struggle whitethorn beryllium long.

'WE WILL TRIUMPH'

Moscow was unprepared for the staunch absorption and the billions of dollars successful Western weapons that person turned the tide successful Ukraine's favour, and Russian troops person been forced retired of much than fractional the territory they took successful the war's archetypal weeks.

In the nine-minute code - the longest of his 22 years successful powerfulness - Putin targeted those opposed to the conflict, a idiosyncratic crusade that present defines his tenure and Russia's relations with the world.

The past year, helium said, had "put a batch of things successful their spot - intelligibly separating courageousness and heroism from betrayal and cowardice".

In a rejection of Kyiv's calls for Russian troops to permission arsenic a precursor to negotiations, Putin said Russia was "defending our radical and our humanities territory".

He besides accused the West of lying to Russia and of provoking Moscow to motorboat its subject campaign.

"The West lied astir peace," Putin said. "It was preparing for aggression ... and present they are cynically utilizing Ukraine and its radical to weaken and divided Russia.

"We person ne'er allowed this, and ne'er volition let anybody to bash this to us."

Kyiv and the West cull Putin's oft-repeated allegation that the Western NATO confederation planned to usage Ukraine arsenic a level to endanger Russia, and accidental helium launched a baseless warfare of aggression successful a bid to prehend territory and instal a authorities much to his liking.

Although Russia has not made immoderate large battlefield gains successful the past six months, Putin promised eventual victory.

"Together, we volition flooded each difficulties and sphere our country's greatness and independence," helium said.

"We volition triumph, for our families and for Russia."

Reporting by Jake Cordell; Editing by Kevin Liffey

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