Putin’s speech is very much a domestic political speech – sort of a “state of the union” – but there is extensive mention of Russia’s Special Military Operation in Ukraine, which Putin reffered-to as a “war” for the very first time.
President Vladimir Putin has accused the West of starting the war in Ukraine and trying to turn it into a global conflict against Russia in a bid to gain ‘limitless power’ in his annual state-of-the-nation address.
‘We were doing everything possible to solve this problem peacefully, negotiating a peaceful way out of this difficult conflict, but behind our backs a very different scenario was being prepared,’ Putin told lawmakers from Russia’s parliament.
He said he was addressing them ‘at a time which we all know is a difficult, watershed moment for our country, a time of cardinal, irreversible changes around the world, the most important historic events that will shape the future of our country and our people,’ and vowed to ‘systematically’ continue with the offensive in Ukraine.
His speech comes days before the war in Ukraine passes the one-year mark on Friday. Putin ordered his forces into the country on February 24, 2022 in what he calls a ‘special military operation’ instead of a war.
Highlights: (So far)
“It is “Them” that unleashed this War not Russia.”
PUTIN: THE PEOPLE OF THE WEST ARE USED AS A TOOL OF LIES
Putin: “The Elites of the West are going crazy; They do not care who they sign on to fight Russia, terrorists, Nazis or the devil. “People in the West are going mad, and this does not seem to be treatable.””
Putin: The existence of our country is at stake.
Putin: The West has opened up to the Nazis in Germany, and now they have started making Ukraine an anti-Russian project. This design is rooted in the 19th century, as in the case of Austria-Hungary and Poland. Their goal is to snatch our historic lands from us.
The longer the range of the weapons sent to Ukraine, the further we need to push the line away from Russia.
PUTIN: THE WEST WANTS TO TAKE US OFF THE MAP
Putin: Look at what they are doing in the West. Pedophilia becomes the norm.
PUTIN: THE FAMILY IS A UNION BETWEEN WOMAN AND MAN
Putin: Anglican church plans to consider idea of gender-neutral god, but God forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing
PUTIN: THE WEST HIDES BEHIND THE LABEL OF DEMOCRACY AND RULE IN A TOTALITARIAN FASHION, SUPPRESSING THEIR OWN PEOPLE
“Many people in the West see that they’re being led towards spiritual destruction”
(Standing ovation interrupted Putin’s speech when he was speaking to the people of the Donbas republics and Zaparozhye and Kherson regions)
Putin: The West has stolen our gold and forex reserves
Anti-Russian sanctions are only a means to an end of making Russian citizens suffer, the country’s President Vladimir Putin said in his State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly on Tuesday.
“Anti-Russian sanctions are only a means, while the goal is, as Western leaders themselves declare, and I quote: ‘to make our citizens suffer’. That’s what kind of ‘humanists’ they are. They want to make people suffer in order to destabilize our society from within. But they miscalculated badly,” Putin said.
According to him, “Russia’s economy and governing system turned out to be much stronger than the West thought”.
Putin: We will do everything for Victory
Russian nuclear forces are modernized and ready for defense
Russia pauses participation in the New START nuclear disarmament treaty
“The issue of suspending the START III Nuclear Treaty may be put on the agenda of the State Duma meeting for tomorrow”
Russian Foreign Ministry: The weapons that reach Kiev and the trainers that come with them, including the Americans, are legitimate targets for Russia
“Military plan for the 2023 – 2025 period… Nuclear military forces ready at 91%” This sounds ominous. Russia is bracing for a looong war.
“We will give loans of up to 500 milion rubles for companies. We will build new roads, new hospitals, new bridges. We will help new business, we need more FAMILY businesses.”
Russia’s GDP contraction totals 2.1% in 2022 though West projected 20% fall, says Putin
Putin is calm, talking sense, inspiring his country to a time a peace and prosperity.