Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that any deployment of Western troops in Ukraine would have “tragic” consequences. He stated this while giving his annual state of the nation address, two weeks before Russia’s 2024 presidential election. He covered a range of key issues while speaking for about two hours.
Putin claimed Western rhetoric threatened a “conflict with the use of nuclear arms and consequently the destruction of civilisation”
The comments appear to respond to French President Macron, who earlier this week did not rule out sending Western soldiers to Ukraine. Russian president Putin also said the Russian military has the “initiative” in the two-year, full scale invasion of Ukraine, and is advancing in a number of areas.
Ukrainian troops recently withdrew from the eastern town of Avdiivka – but overall, the frontlines have been largely unchanged for months.
Just before his speech ended, Putin returned to talking about the Ukraine war and how Russian soldiers will be commended when they return home. He said that from March “veterans of the special military operation” – he is referring those fighting in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine – can apply to be part of a training programme called “time of heroes”.
As part of this programme, Putin promised mentorship by government personnel, and heads of businesses, and “priority” to the best spots at universities.
Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Zelensky claimed that 180,000 Russian soldiers have been killed and tens of thousands more injured.
Putin has also faced backlash from Russian mothers of soldiers who have said their sons are being sent off to fight poorly trained.
Closing his speech, Putin says: “We are one big family, we are together and therefore we will do as we are planning and dreaming.
“I believe in our victories and success and in the future of Russia”.
Those in attendance rise to their feet for a standing ovation and to sing Russia’s national anthem.
There’s a bit more to come, so stick with us as we bring you the last few key lines from the Russian leader’s speech.
However, there was one name he refused to mention – Alexei Navalny – Putin’s most prominent critic. Navalny’s death in a Russian Arctic penal colony earlier this month sparked a global outpouring of tributes and anti-Putin demonstrations, with his supporters convinced his death was a political assassination.
Hundreds of people were detained in Moscow, St Petersburg and other Russian cities for laying flowers in his memory.
Navalny will be buried in Moscow on Friday. He was seen as a threat by the Kremlin for his ability to bring large numbers of protesters to the streets to rail against the government.
In 2017, he was barred from standing in the general election and his organisations were banned by the Russian state.
In 2020, Navalny collapsed on a flight over Siberia. He was rushed for treatment in Germany where tests proved he had been poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok.
The Kremlin denied any involvement, although Putin admitted that the state was keeping Navalny under surveillance.
Navalny returned to Moscow in 2021. He was immediately detained.
He died under circumstances yet to be fully established, but his widow Yulia Navalnaya insists that Putin is responsible.