On this pool {photograph} distributed by Russian state company Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin addresses the viewers throughout the Future Applied sciences Discussion board on the World Commerce Middle in Moscow on February 14, 2024.
Alexander Kazakov | AFP | Getty Photos
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned NATO international locations of the hazard of a nuclear battle with Moscow, if NATO troops had been deployed on the bottom in Ukraine.
“[The West] should understand that we even have weapons that may hit targets on their territory. All this actually threatens a battle with the usage of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilization. Do not they get that?” Putin stated in his annual state-of-the-nation tackle Thursday, in accordance with an EBU feed.
The feedback gave the impression to be a direct response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s suggestion earlier this week that European heads of state and Western officers, who had met in Paris on Monday, had talked about the potential for sending floor troops into Ukraine.
The French chief on Monday stated that there was no consensus on the concept, however that it had not been “dominated out.”
The feedback have since despatched NATO international locations scrambling to disclaim they’d ship troops into Ukraine, with Russia warning that such a deployment would immediate an “inevitable” Russia-NATO battle.
In his speech to Russian lawmakers on Thursday, which lasted greater than an hour, Putin accused the West of attempting to pull Moscow into an “arms race,” including that Russia was prepared for dialogue with the U.S. on “strategic stability,” however wouldn’t be compelled into talks.
He stated Russia is united because it faces the threats of “worldwide terrorism” and challenges to its sovereignty posed by the “colonial West” that, he stated, was attempting to “carry discord to our dwelling.”
‘Ready to resolve essentially the most troublesome duties’
“We will overcome every part collectively,” Putin stated as he launched his tackle. He praised Russian residents, industries and companies, together with the nation’s troops in Ukraine, for his or her efforts in “defending the Motherland.”
“We have now confirmed that we’re ready to resolve essentially the most troublesome duties and rise to essentially the most troublesome challenges,” Putin stated.
“For instance, we’ve got repelled the aggression of worldwide terrorism, we’ve got preserved the unity of the nation, we’ve got stopped it being torn aside, we’ve got supported our brothers and sisters and their want to be with Russia,” he stated. “Our Motherland is standing up for its sovereignty and safety.”
The Russian chief led a minute’s silence to honor Russia’s armed forces, then extolled the “colossal” battlefield expertise they gained throughout the two years of preventing in Ukraine.
Putin stated Russian forces had been on the offensive and had been “liberating” new territories in Ukraine, as soon as once more repeating unsubstantiated claims that Russia is searching for to overthrow a “Nazi” regime within the nation. He added that the West had provoked the battle in Ukraine, and the Center East.
Home financial system
Putin then turned to home issues, encouraging Russians to have giant households and indicating his want to deal with low incomes and enhance life expectancy in Russia.
Measures to help the financial system and Russian industries had been additionally introduced, with Putin calling for the home manufacturing of shopper items, medicines and automobiles to extend. He additionally inspired companies to put money into the nation, calling for taxes on small and medium-sized firms to be lower.
The speech Thursday was delivered to round 1,000 lawmakers and officers, religion leaders, diplomats and journalists. As was the case final yr, members in Russia’s “particular army operation” (code for battle) in Ukraine have additionally been invited to the occasion — Putin’s nineteenth tackle of its form.
