Russian President Vladimir Putin portrayed recent setbacks in Syria and Ukraine as successes during his annual Q&A, asserting that Russia has strengthened as a sovereign nation.

He expressed readiness for talks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war.

Putin highlighted Russia’s daily territorial gains in Ukraine, despite the costly stalemate, and promised to recapture the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces remain entrenched, CNN has reported.

He dismissed claims of weakened Russian influence and avoided commenting on reports of North Korean troop losses supporting Russian forces.

Written by B.C. Begley