President Vladimir Putin praised the Russian army in his New Year's Eve address Sunday, arguing society had "united" behind the Kremlin in a scaled-back message that did not mention Ukraine.
In stark contrast to last year, when the Kremlin leader gave a combative speech flanked by soldiers, Putin described 2024 as the "year of the family" in front of the traditional backdrop of the Kremlin.
"We have repeatedly proved that we are able to solve the most difficult tasks and will never back down, because there is no force that can separate us," Putin said in the message, which aired on state TV.
The address comes as Putin gears up for a 2024 re-election campaign, where the conflict in Ukraine will likely be eclipsed by domestic priorities like the economy and inflation.
He made no mention of Saturday's strike in the Russian city of Belgorod, in which officials said Ukrainian shelling killed at least 24 people and injured dozens more, but praised the army.
"To all those who are on duty, on the front line of the fight for truth and justice," Putin said, "you are our heroes. Our hearts are with you. We are proud of you, we admire your courage."
"We are united in our thoughts, in toil and in battle," he said, adding that Russians understood their country was passing through what he called a significant "historical stage".
"We will ensure the confident development of the Fatherland, the well-being of our citizens, and we will become even stronger," Putin continued in his closing remarks.
Who Is Andrey Belousov, Russia’s New Defense Minister?
The televized New Year's Eve speech, which continues a tradition started by Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, is a holiday staple in Russia, watched in millions of households.
It is aired just before midnight in each of Russia's 11 time zones, and is usually a short summary of events of the past year as well as wishes for the year ahead.
You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter
Comments ( 1)
Putin is obviously indifferent to causing death either to Ukraine or Russian citizens. His personal glory and survival remain the extent of his thinking. So his words to his people are nothing more that vranyo (lies to those who know he is lying). The question is when will the russian people wake up from their indifferent slumber and realize inaction makes them complicit in his evil acts. Its' already past time and they are now on the precipice of going down in history as an entire culture complicit in international crimes and murder. As such Russia will further digress to an extremely isolated and impoverished nation (North Korea style) with little hope of global reconciliation. Most likely they will eventually get swallowed up by their more powerful neighbour China and never have hope for democratic freedoms again. For Russians it is now a pivotal history making time.
I expect Russians now well beyond sick of putins oppressive criminal regime will take the risks necessary to change all their leadership. They will know that their problem needs to be solved internally for their people to ever be accepted back into the decision making civilized circles of the free world.
If Ukraine however takes out putin first, that will always leave the world in doubt as to whether any russian is worth trusting. Without trust there can be no commerce and no friendship. That poses a very isolated and dark future for their future generations.