Kremlin says preparations have begun for Putin’s annual direct line
In short
The Kremlin has started preparing for President Vladimir Putin’s traditional “Direct Line” call-in event, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Vesti journalist Pavel Zarubin. Peskov said a Sberbank neural network has “matured substantially” and will allow more citizens’ appeals to be processed. No date for the event was given; Vedomosti recalled that the 2025 direct line lasted 4.5 hours and that Putin commented on more than 70 topics.
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The Kremlin has begun preparing the traditional “Direct Line” with President Vladimir Putin, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Interfax and Vedomosti reported that Peskov made the statement in an interview with Pavel Zarubin, a journalist with Vesti. RIA Novosti announced the start of preparations without further detail. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
“We actively use neural networks. By the way, this year we have also already started preparing the Direct Line, and during this time Sberbank’s neural network has matured substantially. And it will allow us to process an even greater number of citizens’ appeals,” Peskov said, according to Interfax. Vedomosti likewise reported that the neural network would make it possible to handle more appeals to the direct line. [ 2 , 3 ]
Vedomosti noted that the direct line with Putin lasted 4.5 hours in 2025 and that the president commented on more than 70 topics. It said the big press conference combined with the direct line with Putin was held in Gostiny Dvor. [ 3 ]
The reports did not give a date for this year’s direct line or say how many appeals are expected. They also did not state whether the event will again be combined with the president’s annual press conference. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The Direct Line is one of the Kremlin’s main set-piece events for presenting Putin’s contact with the public, and state and business outlets reported the start of preparations within minutes of each other. The stated use of an AI tool to handle appeals indicates the format is being scaled up on the processing side, though the documents give no date or expected volume.
Key facts
- The Kremlin has begun preparing the traditional “Direct Line” with President Vladimir Putin, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Peskov made the statement in an interview with Vesti journalist Pavel Zarubin. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Peskov said a Sberbank neural network has “matured substantially” and will allow more citizens’ appeals to be processed. [ 2 , 3 ]
- No date for the event was given in the reports. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Vedomosti noted that the 2025 direct line lasted 4.5 hours and that Putin commented on more than 70 topics. [ 3 ]
- Vedomosti said the combined big press conference and direct line with Putin was held in Gostiny Dvor. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Preparation for the traditional “Direct Line” with President Vladimir Putin has begun, according to the Kremlin. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced this in an interview with Vesti journalist Pavel Zarubin. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Peskov said a neural network will make it possible to process more appeals from citizens. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- When the Direct Line will take place, and whether it will again be combined with Putin’s big annual press conference. The documents say preparations have started but give no date and do not state the format; Vedomosti only describes how the 2025 event was arranged.
- How many appeals are expected or have been received so far. Peskov is quoted saying more appeals can be processed, but no figure appears in any document.
- Which neural network is being used and how it is applied in processing appeals. Interfax and Vedomosti say a Sberbank neural network is involved; RIA mentions only the start of preparations, and no document describes the processing in detail.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti reports the Kremlin’s announcement of the start of preparations for the direct line with Putin. [ 1 ]
- Interfax publishes Peskov’s remarks on the preparations and on using a Sberbank neural network to process more appeals. [ 2 ]
- Vedomosti reports the start of preparations and recalls the duration and topics of the 2025 direct line. [ 3 ]