Putin focused on justifying war in New Year's address - ISW

This was stated in an analysis by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

By doing so, he wants to justify a costly, drawn-out "SWO" and to embolden the ultra-nationalist part of society, experts say

It is noted that the banality of much of Putin's New Year speech indicates his lack of confidence in his ability to shape the Russian information space amid growing criticism of warfare

For the same reason the annual address to the federal assembly was earlier postponed, analysts said.

Meanwhile, the British newspaper Financial Times claims that Russia is trying to regroup and is preparing its people for a long war. The publication's forecast is as follows: "The war in Ukraine will last all year. Neither Kiev nor Moscow will agree to freeze the 'conflict'.

The conditions for a ceasefire, let alone a formal peace settlement, are unlikely to be met in 2023. Freezing the current positions will satisfy neither Russia nor Ukraine... Zelensky cannot agree to a ceasefire, leaving Ukraine without territory lost after the Russian invasion in February, apart from occupied Donbass and Crimea seized in 2014. To regain this territory will require weapons, which the West does not seem willing to supply," the forecast says.