Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his normally annual speech on the past year today, December 14. It is the first time in two years that he has done so.
– Peace will come when we reach our goals and Ukrainesays Putin in the speech.
– Either we agree on peace in Ukraine, or we solve the problem by using force, the president continues.
Last year, the speech, which is referred to as a “marathon of a press conference”, was canceled for the first time in at least ten years.
But this year the president does not cancel. At 10 Norwegian time, he has taken the lectern, and will probably be sitting there for many hours.
– It normally lasts for three to five hours, says Tom Røseth, who is the main teacher in intelligence at the Norwegian Defense Academy.
CRITICAL: Tom Røseth, head teacher in intelligence at the Norwegian Defense Academy. Photo: Forsvarets høgskole Show more
War
What Putin will talk about in all these hours is not known for sure, but Røseth says ahead of the speech that he thinks Putin will announce that he is running as a presidential candidate again in the Russian elections in March next year.
– In the past, this has only been announced indirectly via a soldier. Putin himself will probably now publicly talk about it, says Røseth.
The war, or “the military special operation” in Ukraine, will probably also be an important topic in the speech, Røseth believes.
– He will probably talk about the important time Russia is facing, and touch on the special operation in Ukraine. Perhaps he will refer to it as war, says Røseth, and says that Putin has done so on a few occasions in the past year.
– Putin will probably make a condemnation of the West, and claim that the West is cracking down on its support for Ukraine. The coming period will be important for Russia when it comes to winning the battle against the USA and the West with regard to Ukraine, continues Røseth.
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– Thoroughly stressed
Røseth also believes that Putin will talk about the economy in the country.
– Inflation is high in Russia, so here there are challenges that must be addressed, he says.
Traditionally, Putin holds two major public events a year – one where Russians across the country can call in with questions, and a press conference that usually lasts several hours.
Today, the plan is that Putin will first give a speech, and then answer questions from the press.
According to Røseth, the questions he receives are clarified in advance.
– I assume that this is orchestrated, he says.
2023-12-14 09:16:04
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