The anniversary of the Russo-Ukraine war is approaching. On the 21st, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a speech to members of both chambers of parliament, emphasizing that Russia is facing the threat of Ukraine and accusing the West of funding the war. He has vowed to continue fighting in Ukraine and has accused the NATO-led NATO of fomenting conflict in the false belief that Russia can be defeated.
Sky News (Sky News) reported that Putin said in his speech that “it is a very difficult time for Russia” and that the world is undergoing historic changes that will determine Russia’s future, and that the Russian government will gradually resolve the problems facing it. the goal before us.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, former President Dmitry Medvedev, Finance Minister Andrei Siluanov and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov , Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill (Patriarch Kirill) and senior military officials were all on the scene. However, members of the foreign media, considered “foreign agents”, were not invited to attend this year.
In the first 20 minutes of Putin’s State of the Nation address, there was very little talk about Russia itself, mainly attacking the West. Putin continued to use “special operations” to refer to his invasion of Ukraine; reiterated that Russia was facing “Nazi” threats, as well as continued threats and hatred from the Kiev regime; and claimed that Ukraine was waiting for Russia to help them.
Putin went on to explain his own version of history, claiming that Russia’s previous attempts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region through peaceful means turned out to be “fraud” and “cruel lies” in Western promises of peace. Putin also claimed that Kiev was trying to collect biological and nuclear weapons.
Putin declared that “Ukraine and Donbass have become symbols of lies”, accusing the West of withdrawing from “important agreements”, issuing “hypocritical statements”, expanding NATO and “covering us with an umbrella”, And reiterated that “them (the West) are to blame for this war.”
Putin argued that the “revolution” in Ukraine that overthrew the pro-Russian government in 2014 sparked Russophobia and extreme nationalism was financed by the West.
Agence France-Presse reported that Putin also vowed to “systematically” promote the offensive in Ukraine. “We will solve the immediate goal step by step, carefully and systematically.”
Putin then turned his focus to the LGBT (gay, bisexual, transgender) community, a frequent theme in his speeches. He asserted that “the family represents the union of a man and a woman” and that “we must and will protect our children from degradation and degradation”.
More than 30 minutes into his State of the Union address, Putin turned his focus to supporting service members and their families. “Every family of bereaved fighters, every veteran must have a social care coordinator who can communicate with them personally and solve their problems,” he said. Putin promised to create a special government fund to provide assistance to “special military forces” Action” participants and their families.
Then Putin turned the focus back to the West, accusing the West of instigating conflicts and fighting economic warfare, and he vowed that the West would be unable to achieve anything. Putin argued that the multi-country sanctions against Russia are punishing themselves, including rising prices, business closures, and the energy crisis. “They blame everything on the Russians.”
Putin said that he hopes to create a safe international payment system and reduce dependence on the West. “We should not repeat the same mistakes and destroy our own economy.” He also declared that Western sanctions designed to make the Russians “painful” had not succeeded, arguing that the share of international transactions conducted in the Russian currency, the ruble, had “doubled”.
In his State of the Union address, Putin also mentioned his future plans and ambitions, focusing on improving foreign economic ties. He mentioned the extension of roads with Mongolia and mainland China to increase the connection between Russia and East Asia. He also hoped to develop a north-south international corridor to improve connections with India, Iran and the Middle East.
Responsible editor: Yu Weining