ah, with the economy, despite the predicted, collapsed devastation and catastrophe. nothing of the kind has happened here. president vladimir po here on the lines the west failed efforts to crush the russian economy. but also he slams washington for dividing and setting post soviet states against most to right now we're following in the footsteps of the advance of the wagner group. basically, we're going to the south west, an outcast of the city of tomo school kathy, exclusively following the wagner. group 5 has decided bonds through internet republic city. it is one of the many a hot spots of the conflict. a ready,

probably mr. benjamin netanyahu announces the formation of a new coalition, though it is fueling speculation that the countries politics on merging further and further though, right. with the international headquarters here at moscow. i'm growers to share with you a very, i guess, while headlines. it's a pleasure to have you with quote, the u. s. has long been trying to divide the post soviet world and influence ukraine. and that's what president vladimir putin had to say at a press conference after today's state council meeting. patricia scully, mores. can we now say that the u. s. is directly involved in the conflict? the u. s. has been dealing with this for a long time. it's been involved and trying to undermine has an influence ukraine since soviet times our opponent civil was trying to divide us and then tried to manage the separate ponce. nothing new there. the idea of ukrainian separatism was

born a long time ago, while the russian president of course, spoke a lot about how the a west was trying to stoke the flames of nationalism and ukraine long before the soviet union even collapsed. but the russian president also spoke a lot about the russian economy. of course, he said that it's fair a lot better than many people in the west had predicted back in march in february of this year despite predictions that russian gdp would fall by double digits. it's only actually fallen by 2.5 percent and on top of that, indicators connected to unemployment and inflation have been kept very low as well . stoker fir, economy capacity economy despite the predict the collapse devastation and catastrophe. nothing of the kind as happened here. moreover, rushes indicate as a much better than many g 20 countries. this applies to the main macroeconomic indicators like g d p. yes, there is a slight drop. i said earlier that the drop is 2.9 percent according to international experts. but it's now less 2.5 percent. one of the main indicators

around the world is the unemployment rate for us. it is at a lower level than pre pandemic. but then it was 4.7 percent. now it is 3.8 percent . our labor market is stable, our financial market is stable. i thought that one of the interesting things said don dirt during this press conference, was i one of the, one of the questions from a member of the press. what was i? he asked, is russia running out of miss aisles in the conflict in ukraine, but also, ah, certain western partners and ukraine who are fighting russia there? are they running out of weapons as well? a, quite a lot was said about russia defense industry wasn't it? right. and it was also discussed alongside one question that another journalist asked regarding the possibility of the u. s. supplying the key regime with patriot missile systems. this is something that a lot of putin said ok, let the west do that. because the patriot missile systems already outdated and it

would take such a long amount of time for american troops or whoever to train ukrainian troops on how to use that. but in terms of the weapons stockpiles, like you were talking about before vladimir putin said, there is a huge difference between the ukrainian defense industry and the russian one. because while key of soviet, basically, mainly soviet weapons stockpiles, they're actually already on the brink of running out while moscow has plans to actually increase its own stockpiles in the near future. we just know we were suitable in january. russia will have a new frigates in combat service with new weapons systems. we are not being provocative, but this will strengthen our strategic forces. despite these being medium rein systems that speed characteristics give as a new advantage. as for the patriot systems, they are old and do not work in the same way as, as 3 hundreds. but nevertheless, those who opposes consider the patriots as defensive weapons. well, okay, we'll just keep in mind,

and there will always be an antidote. those who do this just prolonging the conflict, our goal is not to prolong the military conflict, but on the contrary to end this war, we strive for this and will continue to strive for this conflict. now that was another very important moment. we just heard there prudent, emphasizing once again that russia wants to see an end to this war. this is something we've heard reiterated by russian officials for a long time. now they say that the west is to blame for this conflict being drawn out because it's given a blank check when it comes to weapons and munitions to the key of regime put. and also said that this policy basically directed directly contradicts what the russian government wants for both sides to sit down at the negotiating table and find a diplomatic solution the time to learn more, let's go live to look, we have a right now the various independent journalist joining us live here on this program on our international look, always good to see you. i know you've been keeping your,

your thumbs on the top here with regarding the putin today, making a lot of speeches today at all a q and a with a press as well. he's spend some time addressing the youth in the future generations of russia, as you well know. luc, he talked about the russian economy, saying that the russian economy is doing far better than anyone expected. in fact, saying that most indicators show rusher is now doing better than most g 20 countries these days when it comes to the economy. luke, in the wake of western sanctions, how is that possible? shouldn't the ruble be rubble by now? i was biden promised. that's what we were told by germans, by the french, by our leaders in the west, at our sanctions, when necessary to branca, a russia to we sneeze, but we are on our knees and energy wise. it is, the situation is terrible. we have mine a stand last week for us. it's a terrible winter. i mean he brushes minus then is quite frequent, but here people start to realize that we had a huge problem of energy. no, no fuel,

no gas, no, no one, no, no solutions for oil are within months in long term solutions, not before years from now. so it's not this went to that will be to worse. it's nice little on our economy in tatters everywhere. i mean factories closing, even the bakeries, you know, my baker round the corner having to close because he can't bay for his gas. oh, so this is terrible and they don't have an answer on so our economy, things out us and rushes seems to do well. look, there are some that say that that some money is behind some sort of di, industrialization of europe. when you look at the north stream, sabotaged, for example, cutting off the lifeline of russian energy to the european economy. the backbone of the european economy. are we talking here? you mentioned a moment ago about your baker around the corner. he can afford to run his operations because energy is so expensive these days. luke,

is there any sense of resentment in europe? i know you're in brussels, but is there any sense of resentment across europe to politicians, that politicians who will give billions to a war effort, but not billions to help with the energy crisis affecting everyday people like you and me. it's building up. it's building up really in all our countries slowly because people come in on people. i use the word they know they asked of the scholar t their look at christmas coming christmas new year. so they're by their presence even saying at the shop that may be the last time we can afford nice christmas and things like that. but the risk management resentment is building up and what happened that european polymer last week? i mean, the fact that one of the vice presidents was put to jail for corruption and many members of, of the european bolivar are, are all on the list of the people that the police is after. this is incredible and

it, it worsens. the situation because of the cost of life is increasing. we have for 10 percent, 12 percent inflation. we can't get energy, so it's getting worse. and the reaction will the reactions will increase humphrey luke let. so let's turn our attention to some of the comments from the russian president vladimir putin today. he did a couple of speeches today. he did some big extensive q and a with a press as well. he really wasn't holding back when it comes to ukraine. it was, the issue was brought up that the french leader emanuel micron is in some way, trying to corral some sort of peace talks to end the conflict in ukraine. but micron apparently doesn't want china and turkey leading the mediation. why do you think that is luke? well, i think is sex personally for the 1st thing, because so you thought, you know, that france was the gold between par excellence. and when turkey became the place where negotiations between russia and am jo, ukraine took place and that there were some results. remember,

the brain deal and things i mean, michael felt vexed. first leave it as simple as that. but of course, on his reaction saying that he doesn't want china or, or, or turkey playing the role of the go betweens. between the 2 different are factions generally, between america and europe. on one hand rush on the other end. it's allison and china, india and africa. for it's on the rest of the world. so um he would like to get a role and he says things i mean yesterday, i mean, it was really silly saying that ukraine, that he wasn't sure that ukraine would become a member of nato. i mean, if he thinks and he should think that never should your grand become a member of nato, he can say that, and there will be no membership because it's unanimity, ruling nato. so this is, this is very bad. political on the part of mr. mccall, he has lost this touch. look of

a independent journalist joining us here on arty international. always great to see you. thanks for your time. thank you. ah. so the cities, although donuts republic had become some of the main hot spots of the ongoing conflict with fighting even spilling out on the streets. artie course won an eager to dine off. exclusive ne lauer following the hardened wagner group fighters as they advance on ukrainian frontline. ah, so right now we're following in the footsteps of the advance of the wagner group. basically we're going to the south west an outskirts of the city of our charm of school by mood. basically the fighting has already been taken to the city streets. but the point where we're going to is basically where the wagner fighters ah, flanking the main garrison. the main ukrainian garrison in bermuda from southwest, in the not so far distance, the skyline of book mood stairs at us through crispy december air muscle. children

not only how dangerous is this road if you could rate it from one to 10. i give it a full your apostrophe is often shelled with yes, he can get caught under artillery. fire the park towards or thomas go back. mode is paved with trenches, mazes like this, and with dead ukrainian soldiers left in them. this handheld rocket launcher is still armed. it's still dangerous. it still has the cool sign of the soldier that it belong to. it translates as quiet. so this is what it looks like here. and the ambiance of war can be clearly heard behind and all around me.

were at the small village of 100 k. and this is the closest that the wagner's forces have managed to get to the city of buck moved when it comes to the south, west and direction. basically it's about 7 kilometers to the city itself and may be 600 meters to a kilometer, to the point where the wagner troops are clashing with their ukrainian enemy. lungess could you learn as they were attempting to resist, but this is our job. we are advancing and we took control of this village rather swiftly. still, there were some difficulties afterwards. this drone footage was shot a few days ago wagner's artillery crew spotted a ukrainian unit. heavy shelling put the enemy to flight. they fled, abandoning their dead and wounded brothers in arms, whose bodies were left for us to discover. these positions are the ones that the ukrainian forces abandoned. most recently behind me, you can see 2 dead bodies left here,

left behind. along with the fortifications though, soldiers who are accompanying us here, they are telling us it is not safe to stand out because just yesterday, a ukrainian sniper was working and firing in this direction from less than a kilometer away with the right. now the soldiers of the vote for attacking the positions of ukrainian forces just outside of the city, but most ukrainian forces don't leave attempts to retake lost positions. but so far everyone who tried didn't make it back with us. well usually our positions were located at 50 meters away. first we fired artillery. then in like 20 minutes we came here ourselves.