Over 1,200 journalists from Russia and around the world attended the event which lasted 3 hours and twenty minutes, an hour and a half short of the record set in 2008.
But according to President Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov "it's not the length that matters, but the substance". Russian and foreign journalists grilled Putin on such issues as the falling rouble and crude oil prices, the Ukraine crisis and Western sanctions against Russia as well as her response.
12:20 GMT:
Marathon over. #PutinPresser
— Rodney Serkowski (@serkowski) December 18, 2014
12:20 GMT: Putin wishes everyone a Happy New Year and ends the press conference.
12:19 GMT:
Putin sums up: times are tough but on the whole, government's and CenBank's policies are "correct" #PutinPresser
— Guy Chazan (@GuyChazan) December 18, 2014
12:17 GMT:
Why Putin Is Still Popular At Home Despite A Tanking Economy (VIDEO) http://t.co/OmwEsif45c via @newsyvideos
— Collin Ruane (@CollinRuaneTV) December 18, 2014
12:16 GMT:
Putin says "it's way too early for anyone at all" to think about running for president in 2018.
— max seddon (@maxseddon) December 18, 2014
Video: AP — Raw: Arrests Outside Putin News Conference: Russian police arrested about 20 people outside of Ru… http://t.co/S10PuoGdhI
— th████████ (@thaitvnews) December 18, 2014
12:15 GMT:
Putin announces program to build schools and roads for Crimean Tatars. "But not today or tomorrow, there's no money"
— Alec Luhn (@ASLuhn) December 18, 2014
12:12 GMT:
That's the three-hour mark. A cameraman to my left just fell over. Don't feel like we're even close to the end.
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) December 18, 2014
12:06 GMT:
Putin says won't visit Tehran in the near future #PutinPresser
— András Tóth-Czifra (@NoYardstick) December 18, 2014
12:04 GMT: "We will work with our Iranian partners to solve the nuclear issue."
12:02 GMT: Putin warns about a possible future spike in oil prices if the current low prices stay long enough to undercut investment in new fields, which will eventually lead to oil shortages.
11:59 GMT: Putin answering Iranian journalist's question about Iran-Russia trade, talking about oil prices — "We are cooperating in machinery and car construction besides oil and gas. The contracts in oil need to be beneficial to everyone."
11:55 GMT: "I don't have any bureaucrats in my inner circle and I hope I never will."
11:44 GMT: In the meantime, news agencies report the European Union has just approved new 'anti-Crimea' sanctions, including travel restrictions.
11:39 GMT:
I don't think I've seen any Western politician face such a long and diverse grilling. #PutinPresser
— Rodney Serkowski (@serkowski) December 18, 2014
11:37 GMT: "We have very little contact if any with Tbilisi. We would be happy to see any representative of the Georgian leadership in Moscow."
The #PutinPresser is better named by me #PutinPressathon… which other world leader can come close?
— Dr Subroto Roy (@subyroy) December 18, 2014
11:32 GMT:
#Putin: Shanghai Cooperation Org grew beyond its initial mission. India, Pakistan and Iran have a genuine interest to join SCO.#PutinPresser
— Russia Direct (@Russia_Direct) December 18, 2014
11:28 GMT: Putin talks about strong ties with China.
China: our biggest trade partner and our partnership will keep growing despite economic troubles #PutinPresser
— RBTH (@russiabeyond) December 18, 2014
11:25 GMT:
#PutinPresser: Putin says Russia's #military budget is $50 B. Correction: It's planned to be $62B in 2015. Still 10 times smaller than US.
— Velina Tchakarova (@vtchakarova) December 18, 2014
11:23 GMT: Kirov Kvass Man wanted to share his creations with the President, but was apparently prevented from doing that by security.
11:22 GMT:
Putin: "Coca-Cola is so bad for you."
— Paul Sonne (@PaulSonne) December 18, 2014
11:19 GMT: As a man from Kirov asks Putin how to secure a market segment for his local fermented bread drinks (aka kvass), some cannot let go of the intrigue surrounding the President's personal life.
11:18 GMT:
Together the USA and Russia could defeat ISIS. It's time for the US government to ally with the right countries. #PutinPresser
— Chris Jenkins (@Chris_S_Jenkins) December 18, 2014
11:17 GMT:
You have to say one thing you don't see many leaders stand up and take questions for 2 hours. #PutinPresser
— Clew (@Clew64) December 18, 2014
11:17 GMT:
I wish I knew Russian well so that I could listen to this #PutinPresser live and in his language. Fascinating stuff. Guy has charisma
— Andrew B. Wiese (@andrew7wiese) December 18, 2014
11:13 GMT:
#Putin: Incredibly impressive how he can answer each & every question talking in depth with no notes whatsoever. Immensely well informed.
— Novorossiya Lives (@Novorossiyan) December 18, 2014
11:11 GMT:
#Putin on his personal life: Everything is just fine, don’t worry http://t.co/xXVtfTVIWG #PutinPresser pic.twitter.com/FY1e866MUF
— Sputnik UK (@SputnikNewsUK) December 18, 2014
11:11 GMT: "A top-brass friend from Europe asked me: Do you love someone? I said, yes. — 'And does anyone love you?' — I have love in my life, I love and am loved."
11:09 GMT:
#PutinPresser John Simpson repeated the lie about Russian "invasions" of Ukraine. Shame on him. Putin rightly ignored this in his answer.
— Stephen Henley (@steve_henley) December 18, 2014
11:04 GMT: "We want to work together with our western partners to counter the terrorist threat, international crime, as well as deadly viruses…"
11:04 GMT:
#Putin: Is it Russia moving its military structure closer to borders of other countries? #PutinPresser
— Yury Barmin (@yurybarmin) December 18, 2014
11:01 GMT:
#Putin: American bases are all over the world and you are saying that we are being aggressive? http://t.co/xXVtfTVIWG pic.twitter.com/uXJ9q8k8Cr
— Sputnik UK (@SputnikNewsUK) December 18, 2014
10:59 GMT: "Thanks for the question. As for the development of our military forces, Russia has contributed to the tension but only in the sense that we have been protecting our interest. We are not aggressive or attacking anyone. We are just protecting our own and the discontent from our American partners is due to what we are doing — Russia is defending its national interests in an ever more robust way."
10:56 GMT: John Simpson from the BBC asking a question "Western countries universally believe there's a new Cold War — it must be your orders that sent your troops into Crimea and Ukraine and now you have a big problem with the currency…"
10:54 GMT:
A strong Russian state is the best defender of Russian interests — #Putin http://t.co/xXVtfTVIWG #PutinPresser pic.twitter.com/HEBVJYNalM
— Sputnik UK (@SputnikNewsUK) December 18, 2014
10:53 GMT:
Reuters to #Putin: Off the record some in your circle blame you. Putin: Give me their names! #PutinPresser
— Vasco (@Callaicus) December 18, 2014
10:50 GMT: "Russia's elites are the peasants and ordinary workers..those who carry the weight of our country on their shoulders."
10:47 GMT: Putin says there are no political campaigns against the opposition, and there never will be.
10:45 GMT: "Are you not a afraid of a palace coup? No, because we don't have palaces…"
10:38 GMT:
"@ChrisMilbank: Perhaps UK Prime Minister should take note that Putin is no Obama Poodle. pic.twitter.com/FFnnR2jnIk"Facts of reality
— dr kazem marafie (@drkazemmarafie) December 18, 2014
10:34 GMT:
Ksenia Sobchak, socialite turned opposition TV presenter and daughter of Putin's mentor gets a q. Putin jokes "why did you give her a q?"
— Kirit Radia (@KiritRadia) December 18, 2014
10:29 GMT: "A year ago you pardoned Khodorkovsky, he promised no politics, now he wants to be president. You regret it?" Putin: "President of which country?"
10:23 GMT:
When Putin talked about uniting society, he used verb splotit (join, rally, unite) — I’d say that’s his word of the year, esp after Crimea.
— Tom Parfitt (@parfitt_tom) December 18, 2014
10:21 GMT: Crowd laughs at tongue-in-cheek question of why Khodorkovsky isn't president yet.
Meanwhile…@AP-NORC poll finds 80% of Russians back Putin even as the ruble falls, economic woes grow: http://t.co/kvZTN3LkDa #PutinPresser
— Andrew Peng (@TheAPJournalist) December 18, 2014
10:18 GMT: There is a very thin line between opposition members and the so-called '5th Column'.
10:08 GMT:
#true RT @NataliaAntonova: HAHAHA. "America stole Texas from Mexico, but we can't be in charge of our own lands?" #PutinPresser"
— sandman V (@sandman_ro) December 18, 2014
If Europe doesnt want gas via south stream then so be it. but there no supplies gas to Europe that cheaper than Russian gas #PutinPresser
— BenAris (@bneeditor) December 18, 2014
10:02 GMT: Pivot to the East is an economic decision, not a political one. But some seem to be confused as to what effect it will have on the Russian economy, what to do with diversification and the idea that the two concepts can co-exist.
10:00 GMT: Prisoners on both sides in Ukrainian conflict should be released so they can join their families for the holiday season.
09:56 GMT:
#Putin: Do you want the Russian ‘bear’ to become a stuffed animal? http://t.co/xXVtfTVIWG #PutinPresser pic.twitter.com/bX32fuUX3D
— Sputnik UK (@SputnikNewsUK) December 18, 2014
Putin: "I have no doubt Poroshenko is looking for peace, but he isn't the only one in Kiev, others want fight 2 end" Here we can all agree.
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) December 18, 2014
09:55 GMT: "I have no doubt [Ukrainian President] Poroshenko wants the crisis resolved", says Putin, suggests other forces in Kiev are in play
#Putin: Economic problems is the price we pay for the will to preserve our state http://t.co/xXVtfTVIWG #PutinPresser pic.twitter.com/CtNThCha7t
— Sputnik UK (@SputnikNewsUK) December 18, 2014
09:48 GMT: Putin says that if you "try chain the 'bear', he will fight back with claws". He says that Russia is trying to maintain its sovereignty and independence
09:43 GMT: Ukrainian journalist asks Vladimir Putin about number of soldiers sent to Ukraine.
09:41 GMT: NATO has built up walls, not Russia.
09:38 GMT: "The Berlin Wall fell and what we are witnessing at the moment is building a new wall" — says Putin.
09:35 GMT: Putin says Russia will face difficulties, but can benefit from the situation and diversify the economy.
09:30 GMT: "The most unfavourable scenario in Russia's economy will last for approximately two years. But the situation might improve faster. There are a lot of factors. I would not refer to the current situation as a crisis. I believe that some actions of the Russian government and Russia's Central Bank could have been made quicker." Vladimir Putin is optimistic on Russia's economic development, he says "the Russian government should not forget about its responsibilities, work with exporters."
09:23 GMT: "I believe that we could have acted faster and we need to be pragmatic. What is the government doing? They have risen the key interest rate — the economy will adjust. Why am I optimistic? Because the economy will adjust to life and work and the tradition of the low oil prices. This will happen. The question is, how quickly will these adjustments take place…"
09:16 GMT: “The situation has been provoked by external factors, first and foremost” says Putin in regards to the fall of the rouble. “Foreign economic factors are influencing it and I'm talking about the oil price, which is followed by the gas price as well. I believe the Central Bank and the government are taking the right measures in regards to the currency situation. On the whole, the direction is correct and I hope that yesterday's and today's decrease of the exchange rate of the foreign currency and growth of the rouble – will that maintain? Is that possible, yes? Whether the oil prices will continue to fall and influence the rouble that is possible too. What are we going to do about this? We are going to use the measure that we used quite successfully in 2008."
09:12 GMT: The press conference has started.
The press-conference was broadcast live on Russian national TV channels. A live stream of President Putin's annual press conference was available on our website and in our live updates on Twitter
