Russian President Vladimir Putin will deliver a state of the nation address on February 21, three days before the first anniversary of the Russian army’s offensive in Ukraine, the presidency announced on Friday.
“On February 21, the President of the Russian Federation will address the Federal Assembly [que reúne as duas câmaras do parlamento russo]”, advanced the spokesman of the Russian presidency (Kremlin), Dmitry Peskov.
According to him, the speech will address “the current situation”, that is, the Russian military intervention in Ukraine and the socio-economic situation of the country.
Peskov said the speech will take place at Gostiny Dvor, a convention center near Red Square in central Moscow.
Vladimir Putin often gives an annual state of the nation address to Russian parliamentarians, during which he takes stock of the past year and sets out new strategic directions.
In 2022, however, this speech was cancelled, following the Russian army’s attack on Ukraine.
Dmitri Peskov said today that Russian soldiers taking part in operations in Ukraine will “certainly” be invited to the February 21 speech.
On Thursday, the Russian foreign minister spoke about the ongoing war, assured that the country “will emerge stronger” from the confrontation with the West in Ukraine and assured that Russia will resist “calls to dismember the homeland.”
According to Sergei Lavrov, the decision on the military offensive in Ukraine was made by the Russian president “after years of explaining” to the West about the inadmissibility of ignoring Russian security demands.
Source: TSF
