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Vladimir Putin (archive recording)
Photo: MICHAIL KLIMENTYEV / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN / POOL / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock
The Ukraine crisis and the Navalny case: Russia's relations with the USA, the EU and NATO are worse than they have been since the Cold War.
Head of State Vladimir Putin warned abroad against any provocation in his State of the Union address.
Russia will react hard and quickly, Putin said in parliament in Moscow.
The Kremlin chief spoke of ongoing and unfounded unfriendly actions against Russia, which reached into sport.
Moscow strives for good relations with other countries and is ready for dialogue, but he hopes that no state in Russia will cross the "red lines", said Putin.
Russia will always find a way to defend its interests.
One of the reasons for the bad relationship with other countries is the action taken against the imprisoned Putin critic Alexej Navalny (read more here).
In addition, the conflict in eastern Ukraine has intensified: Moscow is supporting pro-Russian separatists there and recently pulled tens of thousands of soldiers together at the border.
The US has also imposed new sanctions on allegations of Russian interference in the US election.
At the weekend, the Czech Republic accused Russia of being responsible for an attack on an ammunition dump in the NATO country around seven years ago.
As a result, both countries mutually expelled numerous diplomats from the other side.
Herd immunity to Corona in autumn
Putin is aiming for herd immunity against the corona virus for his country in the autumn.
"Vaccinations are now of crucial importance (...) so that herd immunity can develop by autumn," said the Kremlin chief.
At the same time, Putin praised Russia's scientists for having achieved a "real breakthrough" in the fight against the pandemic.
There are now "three reliable vaccines against the coronavirus" from his country.
The President admitted that there was a certain "reluctance" to vaccinate among the population.
Putin himself has already received both shots.
The 68-year-old did not make it public whether he opted for Sputnik V, EpiVacCorona or CoviVac.
Putin called on all Russian citizens to get vaccinated.
"It's the only way we can get rid of this deadly disease."
as / AFP
