david waker 
Vladimir Putin cancels event sparking health rumours .
Russian President Vladimir Putin will now no longer maintain his conventional televised yr-stop information convention this month, the Kremlin stated Monday, 10 months into Russia`s stuttering invasion of Ukraine.
The occasion is a staple of Putin`s calendar, giving him the risk to show off his command of troubles and his stamina as he sits on my own on a degree in a huge auditorium for a question-and-solution consultation with journalists which can ultimate extra than 4 hours.
But the war, which started out on Feb. 24, has now no longer long gone nicely for Putin. His forces had been crushed lower back from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on, and feature suffered primary battlefield setbacks withinside the east and south of Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov become requested in a name with journalists whether or not a date have been set for this yr`s “huge information convention”, and replied: “No, there won`t be one earlier than the brand new yr.”
He stated Putin could discover different methods to speak with journalists, noting that he had held different information conferences, which include on his journeys abroad.Last Friday, Putin replied questions from journalists throughout a go to to the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.
Peskov stated the Kremlin could suggest afterward a date for any other annual set piece, Putin`s annual speech to each homes of Russia`s parliament, much like the United States president`s annual State of the Union address.
Putin additionally historically holds a large televised name-in each yr with contributors of the public, called “Direct Line with Vladimir Putin”, which become ultimate held in June 2021.
Last yr`s yr-stop information convention occurred on Dec. 23, nearly precisely months earlier than the invasion started out, because the Kremlin become denying Ukrainian and US accusations that tens of lots of Russian troops massing close to the border presaged an invasion.
Putin used the event to mention Russia desired to keep away from struggle with Ukraine and the West, however wanted an “immediate” reaction from the USA and its allies to its needs for safety guarantees.
