"Our value is the love of people": Putin announces Ukraine annexation in wild speech

Created: 01/10/2022 09:10

By: Florian Naumann, Stephanie Munk

Vladimir Putin gave a "comprehensive speech" on the Ukraine war on Friday and announced the annexation of four regions.

There were no new threats, and a well-known narrative followed.

• Vladimir Putin

  announces

  annexation

  : results of (sham) referendums are "unambiguous"

• Kremlin chief

  threatens

  Ukraine

  again: "Will defend our soil with all means at our disposal"

• Putin

  resorts to unsubstantiated claims: minute-long tirade against the West - to the point of "Satanism" accusations

Update from September 30, 3:03 p.m .:

Putin’s speech is over, the annexation treaties are signed.

In doing so, the head of the Kremlin – at least according to his own interpretation – created new facts in the Ukraine war.

Putin referred to an "unambiguous" decision in the referendums.

However, the West criticizes these as sham referendums, and the votes were probably not tenable under international law.

Putin did not bring forward fears of new threats or steps such as a ban on leaving the country in view of the ongoing mobilization.

However, he reiterated an already known threat: Russia would defend "its soil" with "all available means".

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had already qualified indirect warnings of a nuclear strike before the appointment.

In his 40-minute speech, however, Putin delivered a tour de force through well-known narratives, allegations and allegations.

He accused Ukraine of being the aggressor in what he believed to be the war and a “genocide” that had been going on since 2014, and the government of Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a “neo-Nazi regime”.

The country must “cease all hostilities” and Russia is ready to negotiate, he claimed.

Putin once again portrayed the West, which promptly reacted to the Kremlin chief's speech, as an aggressor. In his speech he positioned himself as a culture fighter and the EU as a "vassal" of the USA.

Well-known accusations followed: The United States carried out "experiments on living people"; he even accused the West of "a certain satanism".

In some cases, Putin also referred to well-known atrocities in the West, such as in the Vietnam War or in colonialism.

Several statements were made cynically not only by those affected by the war of aggression: Russia's value is "love of people", his country is an "anti-colonial power", "looting and destruction" are the fault of the USA.

At the same time, the Russian army is in trouble in Ukraine: the Kremlin's forces are surrounded in the city of Lyman in Donetsk Oblast.

Putin and governor sign annexation treaty – “Our value is love for people”

Update from September 30, 2:56 p.m .:

After Putin’s forty-minute speech, the annexation treaties are now signed: First, Putin signs, followed by four representatives of the separatists and occupiers in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Cherson.

From the Russian point of view, this is the first formal step towards annexation.

However, a vote in the Duma and the green light of the Constitutional Court still have to follow.

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After completion, Putin and the co-signers will shake hands together.

Cheers from the hall are transformed into “Rossiya, Rossiya” chants, also under the indirect request of the Kremlin boss.

Update from September 30, 2:55 p.m.:

“Our value is love for people,” says the supreme commander of the Russian invasion army.

After a digression on Lenin, Putin concludes with well-known catchphrases of Russian public relations: “The truth is with us, Russia is behind us.”

Update from September 30, 2:47 p.m.:

“The energy sources, you need that so that the houses are warm,” puts Putin to a dig at the EU.

“The crisis is caused by their long-standing policy.

But they still don't look for a way out of it," he claims.

Another scolding from Western societies follows: “Do we want parent 1 and parent 2?

Are you nuts?” Putin scoffs.

"Do you want a third gender?" He also accuses his opponents in the West of heading for "extinction" as well as "suppression of religion" and a "certain satanism".

A majority of world society wants to “defend its values”.

Putin delivers annexation speech: Kremlin chief delivers barrage of claims – “trials on people”

Update from September 30, 2:34 p.m

.: "What is it other than racism that neoliberal culture is a must for the whole world?" Asks Putin rhetorically.

He is now trying to draw a line of argument that spans centuries: the West began to act colonially as early as the Middle Ages.

Russia, on the other hand, led an “anti-colonial” striving early on.

"The USA used nuclear weapons twice" and "turned German cities into ruins" without military reasons, says Putin, despite Russian destruction in the Ukraine war.

The Kremlin chief also refers to wiretapping operations by the USA against friendly politicians.

The "Euro-Atlantic partnership" is a vassal relationship.

Russia's President continues with unsubstantiated allegations: The US is doing "experiments on living people".

With "looting and destruction" they would have triggered large movements of refugees, a "deindustrialization of Europe" is already underway.

Putin also attributes the acts of sabotage to the pipelines to the United States.

“The one who uses it did that,” he says.

Other partners and allies are already on "lists".

Update from September 30, 2:28 p.m.:

Putin addresses the mothers and wives of the soldiers drafted in the “partial mobilization”: “Western governments are fighting against us,” he explains.

The West will now use the opportunity to weaken Russia.

But Russia will do everything against a “neo-colonial system”.

There is an “aggression against traditional cultures”.

"Their striving to maintain their sole power" is the only reason for a "hybrid war" in the West.

He wanted to create "slaves" for himself.

"Russia will always be Russia, we will keep our values," Putin added.

Treaties limiting nuclear weapons or promises not to expand NATO to the east have been broken, says the Kremlin chief.

"They think they're dealing with fools.

But these are false rules that the country will never accept.”

Vladimir Putin during his speech on the annexation in the Kremlin on Friday.

© GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/AFP

Putin announces annexation: "Will defend our soil by all means"

Update from September 30, 2:22 p.m.:

“Elites” made the decision “to destroy the Soviet Union” in 1991, against the will of the people, Vladimir Putin claims.

Boundaries were drawn arbitrarily.

"It's no longer important, the Soviet Union can't be brought back," the Russian ruler continues, adding that "that's not what they're trying to do either."

But there is a will among people to return to their “true home”.

This was preceded by a genocide in eastern Ukraine, Putin adds to another narrative from the Kremlin.

The inhabitants of the four regions would now be "our citizens, forever".

"We are calling on the Kyiv regime to stop all hostilities," says Putin, explaining that the war has been going on since 2014. "We are calling for the negotiating table." The "Kyiv rulers" should "respect" the referendum decision.

The Kremlin chief also repeated a threat: "We will defend our soil with all the means at our disposal."

Putin declares annexation of four Ukraine regions - and refers to the "right to self-determination"

Update from September 30, 2:18 p.m .:

Putin has now started his speech.

He sees a "clear" decision in the accession referendums.

"We are founding four new subjects in the Russian Federation," explains the Kremlin boss - interrupted by applause.

He refers to the "right of self-determination of peoples": "That is their right."

Putin also speaks once again of a “neo-Nazi overthrow” in Ukraine;

not without referring to the "Great Patriotic War" of the Soviet Union against Nazi Germany.

The dead soldiers of the "special operation" are heroes, he adds.

A minute's silence follows.

Putin keeps Kremlin guests waiting – annexation ceremony LIVE

Update from September 30, 2:12 p.m .:

Putin keeps the guests in the Kremlin waiting, despite the prominent figures in the hall.

Photos show Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (in civilian clothes) and Moscow Metropolitan Kornili among the visitors.

A rare picture: Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in civilian clothes before the annexation ceremony in the Kremlin.

© IMAGO/Grigory Sysoev

Update from September 30, 2:05 p.m .:

The invited – apparently predominantly male – guests are waiting in a state hall of the Kremlin.

However, Vladimir Putin has not yet appeared on the stage.

Update from September 30, 1:58 p.m .:

TV pictures show: The announced ceremony for the official annexation of the four Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Cherson is approaching in Moscow.

Vladimir Putin's planned speech is awaited with concern.

In this live ticker we inform you about the most important statements by the Kremlin boss.

Putin delivers 'comprehensive speech': Concerns and fears - what will he announce to Russia?

Preliminary report:

Moscow – There will be a big celebration in Moscow on Friday, including a concert in the middle of the city center: Russia wants to pompously celebrate what is causing international horror this Friday (September 30).

The annexation of four Ukrainian regions to Russia is to be formally completed.

, Red Square in Moscow was

cordoned off on Thursday and a large stage with the words "Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, Cherson" was set up.

These Ukrainian regions are to be declared Russian territory - a total of around 15 percent of Ukraine's territory.

The main actor in the production is, of course, President Vladimir Putin.

According to his spokesman Dmitry Peskov, he will give a long, "comprehensive speech".

What Putin will say is unclear - but it could herald a new escalation in the conflict with Russia.

The world looks with concern and fears at the speech, which is scheduled to take place at around 2 p.m. German time and is expected to be broadcast by major news channels worldwide, in Germany by Phoenix.

A speech by Vladimir Putin in Moscow is eagerly awaited.

© Mikhail Metzel/Imago

Putin Speech on Annexation: Russia Needs Success in Ukraine War

After the defeats in the Ukraine war, Putin needs something that he can sell his people as a success.

His army recently had to accept severe setbacks, Ukraine reconquered large areas.

There is also domestic political pressure: since Putin announced the partial mobilization of the Russian armed forces, the state has been sending out draft orders.

Men who previously pursued ordinary jobs have to go to the barracks to train for action at the front.

There were protests, and many Russians fled the country out of fear.

According to an independent survey, almost every second Russian describes his emotional state after Putin's speech on partial mobilization with "fear, fear, horror".

It therefore seems likely that Putin declared the annexation of the territories in his speech on Friday as a great triumph and partial victory in the Ukraine war.

He could use this to justify his “special military operation”, the sense of which many people apparently doubt, and seek new support in the conflict.

Putin's speech on annexations: is he threatening nuclear weapons again?

On the other hand, towards his opponents - Ukraine and the West - Putin could repeat or even intensify earlier threats.

Even before the sham referendums, Putin had hinted that Russia's army would defend the annexed areas by any means necessary - an indirect threat to Russia's nuclear arsenal.

An attack on the annexed Ukrainian territories would be considered an attack on Russia, the Russian president clarified.

In view of the inconsequential Ukrainian airstrikes on the already annexed Crimea, experts have doubted such drastic reactions.

It is also possible that Putin responds to the wave of refugees leaving his country and announces the consequences.

Hundreds of thousands of Russians have fled to neighboring countries since Putin announced partial mobilization.

Above all, the well-educated and better-off Russians are fleeing.

Putin could impose a ban on leaving Russia on Friday or ban reservists from leaving their place of residence.

Since Putin's order, conscripted Russians are no longer allowed by law anyway.

So far, however, the Duma has said that people can still travel undisturbed within Russia, but that trips abroad are "no longer recommended".

It is also possible that Putin will reassure his people about partial mobilization in order to curb further resentment.

Vladimir Putin: The political career of the Russian head of state in pictures

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Putin's speech on annexations: Bogus referendums are condemned internationally

Internationally, the annexation of the Ukrainian territories is seen as a farce: the sham referendums held by the Russian occupiers in Ukraine clearly violate international law.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) sharply criticized the actions of the Russian occupiers: People were taken out of their homes and workplaces under threats and sometimes at gunpoint and forced to vote.

The result was also absurdly high: Between 87 and 99.2 percent of those taking part in the referendum in the four regions concerned allegedly agreed to belong to Russia in the future.