Vladimir Putin began his speech by repeating the propaganda message regarding a special military operation (a propaganda term for the war in Ukraine – ed.). According to the Russian president, society supports the military’s actions and is ready to become even more involved “in victory.”
– Over the course of two years, Russian business has sent billions of rubles to support the fighters of the Northern Military District. People send camouflage nets and various packages from their sometimes meager supplies. This is a contribution to the overall victory, he said.
– The absolute majority of Russians support a special military operation. The Russian military services know that the whole country is with us, even when they are in the trenches, he added.
Vladimir Putin announced that since the fighting in Ukraine began, the Russian military has significantly strengthened and proven its strength.
– The combat capabilities of the Russian Armed Forces have increased many times. In all directions, troops are advancing and liberating territories, he emphasized.
– During the special operation, the Russian army gained enormous combat experience. There has been a whole range of commanders who care regarding people and perform their duties competently, he said.
Vladimir Putin: We have weapons that can hit targets on their territory
The next topic of the Russian president’s speech was the actions of Western countries towards Russia. As Vladimir Putin argued, the goal of NATO countries led by the United States is to bring regarding the collapse of Russia.
– Washington is taking openly hostile actions, wanting to inflict a “strategic defeat” on the battlefield to Moscow, he said.
– The West has caused conflicts in many countries, and yet it claims that Russia itself intends to “attack” Europe. At the same time, foreign countries themselves choose the “targets” to hit and talk regarding sending troops to Ukraine. The consequences for interventionists will be very dire. We also have weapons that can hit targets in their territory, he added.
Vladimir Putin is critical of NATO enlargement
As an example of actions directed once morest Russia’s security, Vladimir Putin pointed to the decision to join Sweden and Finland in the North Atlantic Alliance. According to the Russian president, the best solution is to strengthen the forces stationed near the borders with the countries of NATO’s eastern flank.
– Strengthening the groups in the western strategic direction is really necessary to neutralize the threats related to NATO’s next expansion to the east and the involvement of Sweden and Finland in the alliance – he said.
At the same time, the Russian president emphasized that the policies of Western countries might lead to a nuclear conflict.
– Everything they (Western politicians – ed.) will come up with now, how they are scaring the whole world. All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons, he argued.
Putin once once more repeated the Kremlin’s alleged desire to build a new international agreement that would stabilize the situation in Eurasia.
– The actions of the United States and allies have led to the dismantling of the European security system. We must develop a new outline of equal and indivisible security for Eurasia. Russia is ready for dialogue with all those interested. Without a sovereign, strong Russia, a lasting world order is not possible, he added.
Vladimir Putin before the Federal Assembly: Strategic nuclear forces on alert
Referring to the alleged threats to the country’s security, Vladimir Putin emphasized that the Russian army is ready to respond to any attack, using all possible types of weapons.
– Strategic nuclear forces are in a state of full readiness to guarantee the safety of life (in Russia – ed.). What we have planned in the field of armaments, which I mentioned in my message in 2018, has already been done or is nearing completion, he said.
According to the Russian president, the country has weapons that “can hit targets on the territory of Western countries.”
– They (Western countries – ed.) must finally understand that we also have weapons, and they know it, that we have weapons that can hit selected targets on their territory – he said.
As an example of effective weapons that have already been delivered to units fighting in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin mentioned the hypersonic missiles of the Kindzhal complex. He also announced the use of Sarmat ballistic missiles in the near future.
– The Kindzhal air complex has not only been put into operation, but is also used with great effectiveness in destroying particularly important targets during a special military operation – he emphasized.
– The first serial heavy Sarmat ballistic missiles were also delivered to the army. We will soon demonstrate them in areas where they perform combat duty, he added.
“They forgot what war is”
In line with the constant Kremlin propaganda regarding the alleged direct involvement of the West in the war in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin stated that the societies of NATO countries are not prepared to conduct the military conflict sought by the authorities.
– These are people who have not undergone difficult trials, they have already forgotten what war is. We, even our current generation, have gone through such difficult trials while fighting international terrorism in the Caucasus. Now, in the context of the conflict in Ukraine, the same thing is happening, he said.
According to Vladmir Putin, the success of politicians in Western countries is building “Russophobia”, thanks to which they can make decisions that would not have been accepted by citizens a few years ago.
– In fact, Russophobia, like other ideologies of racism, national superiority and exclusivity, blinds and deprives reason – he explained.
The President of Russia also commented on the proposal submitted by Emmanuel Macron. The President of France gathered representatives of Western countries to talk regarding direct support for Ukraine by sending NATO soldiers to the country.
– They started talking regarding the possibility of sending NATO military contingents, but we remember the fate of those who once sent their troops to the territory of our country. Now the consequences for possible interventionists will be much more tragic, Putin said.
During his speech before the Federal Assembly, Vladimir Putin presented the Kremlin’s plans to promote the country in the world. As the Russian president argued, one of the most effective ways is to spread knowledge of the Russian language. At the same time, he called on politicians to significantly increase funding for international language programs.
– Russia has long had good relations with Arab countries. They constitute a separate civilization from North Africa to the Middle East, which is developing dynamically today. We consider it important to seek new points of contact with our Arab friends, to deepen the full range of partnerships. We will do the same towards Latin America. And separately, I appeal to the government to increase funding for international programs to promote the Russian language and our multinational culture, he said.
Vladimir Putin also praised the work of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the work done to promote the country and develop international contacts.
– We see prospects in building a large Eurasian partnership, combining integration processes within the Eurasian Economic Union and the People’s Republic of China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative. The dialogue between Russia and ASEAN is developing positively. The Russia-Africa summits became a real breakthrough. The African continent is declaring its interests and its right to true sovereignty more and more loudly. We sincerely support all these aspirations. Russia has long had good relations with Arab countries, he added.
Vladmir Putin before the Federal Assembly. A record-breaking speech
The speech of the President of Russia before the Federal Assembly is an obligation under the Constitution of the Russian Federation. The aim is to present the situation in the country and the main directions of domestic and foreign policy.
According to tradition, deputies of both houses and invited guests are present at the announcement of the message. Members of the government, the chairmen of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor General, the chairman of the Central Election Commission, the head of the Audit Chamber, members of the State Council, leaders of the main religions and representatives of the Russian Public Chamber were invited to the Kremlin.
This year’s speech was a record-breaking one in Vladimir Putin’s presidency. The President of Russia spoke before the Federal Assembly for over two hours. The previous ones lasted on average just over an hour and a half.
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