- Putin accuses the West of provoking the conflict in Ukraine and attempting to drag Russia into an arms race, particularly as Sweden and Finland join NATO.
- While Western leaders discuss the possibility of sending NATO ground troops to Ukraine, Putin asserts Russia's readiness to defend its territory and warns of potential conflict escalation, including the use of nuclear weapons.
- The speech, delivered just over two weeks before Russia's presidential election, is widely viewed as Putin's election program.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stern warning to Western nations against the deployment of troops to Ukraine, cautioning that such actions could lead to tragic consequences. Putin accused the West of instigating the conflict in Ukraine and attempting to involve Russia in an arms race, particularly in light of Sweden and Finland’s potential NATO membership.
While discussions among Western leaders regarding the possibility of sending NATO ground troops to Ukraine persist, Putin emphasized Russia’s readiness to defend its territory and warned of potential conflict escalation, including the use of nuclear weapons. Despite denials from NATO countries like the US, Germany, and the UK regarding ground troop deployments, Putin boasted about Russia’s advanced weaponry, such as hypersonic aircraft and unmanned underwater vehicles, underscoring the readiness of Russia’s strategic nuclear forces.
Putin framed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a “war” and claimed overwhelming support from the Russian populace, rallying against perceived Western attempts to weaken the country. He also addressed accusations from the US regarding Russia’s development of nuclear weapons for use against satellites in space.
The speech, delivered just over two weeks before Russia’s presidential election, is widely viewed as Putin’s election program, focusing largely on domestic issues like the modernization of the tax system, pensions, and incentives aimed at boosting Russia’s declining birth rate. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that the address could largely be seen as Putin’s election agenda, indicating its significance in shaping public opinion ahead of the upcoming election.
