In a state television documentary marking his 25 years in power, President Vladimir Putin has claimed that the question of who will succeed him is “constantly” on his mind. The Russian leader made the remarks while offering kefir and jam to a TV crew inside his Kremlin residence — a rare glimpse into his private quarters as he seeks to shape his legacy.
Speaking to state TV presenter Pavel Zarubin, Putin said he hoped that “the people have a choice” when it comes to the next Russian leader. However, he cautioned that any successor would require the “absolute trust of the nation,” without which they would have “no chance of doing anything serious.”
The segment aired just days before Russia’s annual Victory Day parade, which commemorates the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany, with this year marking the 80th anniversary of that event. In the lead-up to the celebration, Russian forces rehearsed in St. Petersburg and Moscow, where President Xi Jinping of China is expected to join Putin for talks on expanding strategic ties.
Putin’s suggestion that Russians might choose their next leader drew skepticism among critics, given his systematic dismantling of democratic institutions over the past two decades. Independent media have been suppressed, political opponents jailed or killed, and elections widely viewed as manipulated. As The Times UK noted, Putin himself was selected by Boris Yeltsin in 1999, not through a democratic process but as a successor who would protect the former president’s legacy and legal safety.
The documentary also touched on the ongoing war in Ukraine. Putin said Russia has the strength to bring the conflict to a “logical conclusion” without resorting to nuclear weapons. “There has been no need to use those [nuclear] weapons … and I hope they will not be required,” he said.
Putin defended his delayed full-scale invasion of Ukraine, claiming that an earlier confrontation in 2014 — when Russia illegally annexed Crimea — would have been “practically unrealistic” due to unpreparedness for conflict with the West. He reiterated that Russia had initially tried to resolve the Donbas issue “peacefully.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking from Prague alongside the Czech president, expressed strong doubt over Putin’s sincerity, especially ahead of a proposed three-day ceasefire linked to Victory Day commemorations. “We understand who we are dealing with. We do not believe them,” Zelensky said.
Amid rising tensions, the U.S. is reportedly preparing to supply Ukraine with another advanced Patriot air defense system. One is expected to be redeployed from Israel, following approval by former President Trump, while a second may come from Germany or Greece, according to The New York Times.
As Putin celebrates a quarter-century at Russia’s helm, his remarks have sparked renewed speculation about what — or who — comes next. But for now, the Kremlin remains firmly under his control, and the question of succession appears more symbolic than substantive.
