Putin gives long-awaited national speech

Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a long-delayed national address on Tuesday. Many expect the speech to set the tone for next year and shed light on how the Kremlin views government. Stalled Ukrainian civil war.

Putin traditionally addresses a large number of parliamentarians and government officials, and his speeches are broadcast on all Russian state television channels. The constitution requires the president to give a speech every year, but Putin did not give a speech in 2022.Now the address comes a few days before the war friday first anniversary.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian leaders would focus on what Moscow called a “special military operation” in Ukraine and Russia’s economic and social problems. Many observers also expect the speech to address Moscow’s influence with the West.

To underscore expectations, some state TV channels have announced countdowns for the event starting Monday, with Russian state news agency RIA Novosti saying Tuesday morning that the speech could be “historic.” rice field.

The Kremlin has banned media from “unfriendly” countries this year. That list includes the US, UK, and he EU countries. Peskov said journalists from those countries could watch the broadcast and cover the speeches.

Leonid Slutsky, a senior Russian parliamentarian and leader of the nationalist LDPR political party, said that RIA Novosti believed that Putin would “defeat Russia, undermine Russia, or let neocolonial leaders rule.” We will set priorities to deprive the enemy of hope to do so.” ”

Political analyst Tatyana Stanovaya said the speech was “expected to be highly hawkish, aimed at defiantly severing ties with the West.”In the wake of US President Joe Biden Visits Kiev On Monday, “additional edits can be made to make it even tougher.”

Peskov told reporters that the delay in his speech was related to Putin’s “work schedule,” but Russian media reports attributed it to multiple setbacks suffered by Russian forces on the battlefields of Ukraine. associated.

The Russian president once postponed his state speech in 2017.

Last year, the Kremlin also canceled Putin’s press conference and two other big annual events, a highly planned marathon of calls in which people ask the president questions.

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