Russian President Vladimir Putin said that strengthening sovereignty across various areas was a main priority for the country.Putin was speaking at an end-of-year news conference where this year, ordinary citizens got the chance to phone in their questions along with journalists.”Strengthening external sovereignty means strengthening the country’s defenсe capability and external security,” Putin said.”This is the strengthening of public sovereignty, meaning the unconditional provision of the rights and freedoms of the country’s citizens, the development of our political system, parliamentarian,” Putin stressed.Putin, who has held power for nearly 24 years, said last week that he is running for reelection in March.Last year, he did not hold his usual call-in show with ordinary Russians or his traditional session with reporters during the fighting in Ukraine.In addition, his annual state-of-the-nation address was delayed until February of this year.His last news conference was in 2021 amid U.S. warnings that Russia was on the brink of sending troops into Ukraine.Putin has heavily limited his interaction with the foreign media since the fighting began in Ukraine but international journalists were invited this year.