President Vladimir Putin told Russians in a New Year address that the country would move forward with confidence in 2025, though he offered no specific promises on the economy or the war in Ukraine.

Upbeat’ address was delivered exactly 25 years since the Russian president took over from predecessor Boris Yeltsin.

Unlike his remarks in 2022, his speech Tuesday did not mention Ukraine, omitting even his usual euphemism for the war as a “special military operation.”

President Vladimir Putin told Russians in a New Year address that the country would move forward with confidence in 2025, though he offered no specific promises on the economy or the war in Ukraine. At a time when many ordinary people are worried about rising prices and the central bank's 21% interest rate is squeezing businesses and homebuyers,