Kremlin confirms that Vladimir Putin will not host end of year press conference

Russia's government has confirmed that its leader, Vladimir Putin, will not host end of year press conference.

This will mark the first time that the controversial world leader has not held an end of year conference since 2013.

The Kremlin announced yesterday it would not be holding the press-conference this year.

"There will not be [a news conference] before the New Year," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

However, he stressed that Putin 'regularly speaks to the press, including on foreign visits.'

Russian officials have also said that there would also be no new year reception at the Kremlin.

The Guardian's Moscow correspondent, Andrew Roth, noted that this may be possibly a decision influenced by the reluctance to celebrate because Russia’s war in Ukraine has not gone to plan.

This sentiment was shared by former US ambassador to Russia, John Sullivan, who told broadcaster CNN that it is 'a sign of concern about his domestic support.'

He added that he believes that Putin is trying to avoid being 'asked difficult and embarrassing questions (related to Russia's current invasion of Ukraine).'