KREMLIN: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday delivered his long-delayed State-of-the-Nation tackle – a speech that many anticipated will set the tone for the yr forward and make clear how the Kremlin sees its bogged-down warfare in Ukraine. Throughout his speech, the Russian President accused the West of ”complicating issues” for Moscow at a time when it was prepared to barter a peaceable approach to finish the bloodier navy battle with Ukraine.
The Russian President álso vowed to “systematically” press on with Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine, as he delivered his state of the nation tackle. “Step-by-step, we’ll rigorously and systematically resolve the goals that face us,” Putin stated forward of the primary anniversary of the navy intervention.
We had been doing all the things doable to resolve this downside peacefully, negotiating a peaceable means out of this tough battle, however behind our backs, a really totally different situation was being ready: Russian President Vladimir Putin pic.twitter.com/ZY8p1nEf84
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2023
Putin Blames West for Escalation in Ukraine
He additionally stated that the West was “utterly accountable” for the escalation of battle in Ukraine. Putin alleged that Western international locations sought to show the Ukraine battle into a world confrontation with Russia and that Moscow’s existence was at stake. “They intend to translate the native battle into a world confrontation, we perceive it this manner and can react accordingly,” Putin instructed lawmakers.
His speech got here a day after US President Joe Biden’s secret go to to Ukraine. Putin started his speech by saying he will likely be “talking throughout an advanced and frontier time for our nation throughout a time of drastic adjustments in our world.”
Final yr, Putin by no means delivered a state of the Nation tackle as his troops rolled into Ukraine and suffered repeated setbacks. Now, this tackle comes days earlier than the warfare’s first anniversary on Friday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier stated that the Russian chief would give attention to the “particular navy operation” in Ukraine, as Moscow calls it, and Russia’s financial system and social points. Many observers additionally anticipated the speech to handle Moscow’s fallout with the West.
Unfriendly Media Barred Kind Protection
The Kremlin this yr has barred media from “unfriendly” international locations, the listing of which incorporates the US, the UK and people within the EU. Peskov stated journalists from these nations will have the ability to cowl the speech by watching the printed.
The Russian president had postponed the state-of-the-nation tackle earlier than: In 2017, the speech was rescheduled for early 2018. Final yr the Kremlin has additionally cancelled two different large annual occasions – Putin’s press convention and a extremely scripted phone-in marathon the place individuals ask the president questions.
