As of: March 1, 2024, 7:18 p.m
By: Daniel Dillmann, Christian Stör
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Split
Vladimir Putin delivers his State of the Union address.
The Kremlin leader makes far-reaching announcements.
All developments in the news ticker.
State of the Union speech
: Putin promises billions to all of Russia
Much praise for
Russia's
army
: President Vladimir Putin praises the development of the Russian armed forces
Putin
takes the
stage
: Vladimir Putin begins his State of the Union speech
Update, 4:45 p.m.:
In Germany, other top politicians react to Putin's state of the nation speech.
Green politician Anton Hofreiter told
the newspapers of the
Funke media group : “We must not allow ourselves to be intimidated by these threats.”
Update, 12:40 p.m.:
Putin primarily used his State of the Nation speech to promise his population billions in investments.
The Russian president made clear threats to the West.
Putin saw Western states in decline.
A war with Russia would have “tragic consequences” for them.
Their attempts to “weaken Russia and Ukraine” have failed.
French President Emmanuel Macron had previously not ruled out the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine.
In Russia, the entire population is watching Vladimir Putin's State of the Union speech.
© IMAGO/Yelena Afonina
The CDU politician Norbert Röttgen reacted to Putin's speech with a warning.
It was a “serious mistake” to respond to the threats, he told the
dpa
.
“Putin rightly sees this as weakness,” warned Röttgen.
Vladimir Putin ends State of the Union speech
Update, 12:21 p.m.:
The State of the Union address has ended.
At the end, Vladimir Putin emphasized that he “believes in our victory”.
The Russian President leaves the stage to the sound of the national anthem.
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his State of the Nation address.
© IMAGO/Sergei Bobylev
Update, 12:20 p.m.:
Putin now speaks again about his country's campaign against Ukraine.
He thanked the veterans of the “special military operation,” as the Kremlin calls the Ukraine war, for their efforts.
Putin then announces the “Time of Heroes” in Russia.
This is intended to be a program for which war veterans can apply and which in turn is intended to ensure them accelerated access to administrative professions or training positions.
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Update, 12:04 p.m.:
Instead of talking about the war in Ukraine or the emerging conflict in Transnistria, Putin turns to another topic at the end of his speech: the reforestation of the Siberian forests.
The salaries of forest rangers will be increased and nature reserves will be built.
At the same time, tourism will also be promoted both in the north of the country and in the southeast.
State of the Union speech: Putin promises billions to all of Russia
Update, 11:53 a.m.:
If Vladimir Putin is to be believed, almost every area of Russian life will be supported by the government in the Kremlin in the coming weeks and months.
Some of the areas to which the President made billion-dollar promises in his State of the Union address include:
Theaters, cinemas and cultural events
Infrastructure for the expansion of railway lines and road networks
Universities and schools
fishing and agriculture
Familys
housing
Research
Military
environmental Protection
Structurally weak regions
All these areas are expected to receive several billion rubles of support.
Putin doesn't mention where the money will come from.
Putin speaks of “real danger” of nuclear war
Update, 11:41 a.m.:
In an initial assessment of the “State of the Nation Speech,” Russia expert Andreas Heinemann-Grüder on
Phoenix
compares the impression of Putin’s appearance with “a kind of left-wing democratic party conference.”
This is especially true because of the numerous billion-dollar promises that Putin made during the course of the speech.
Update, 11:31 a.m.:
In his speech to the nation, Putin accuses the West of threatening Russia.
This creates the “real danger” of a nuclear war, warns the Russian president.
Putin's State of the Union speech is reminiscent of election advertising
Update, 11:25 a.m.:
The State of the Union speech continues in the style of an election campaign event.
Vladimir Putin speaks about the “nation’s goals for the coming year.”
His government has investment projects in industry, construction, agriculture and education.
People want to improve everywhere, there is money for everything.
Update, 11:03 a.m.:
In his speech, Vladimir Putin also praised the development of the health of the Russian population.
The Russian president recalled a joke that had made the rounds in Russia.
“Stop drinking and go skiing,” says Putin, earning a few laughs.
Russia's president then speaks about alleged successes in the fight against widespread alcoholism in the country.
Update, 10:45 a.m.:
For Putin, “the problem of poverty” remains relevant.
Nine percent of all families in Russia are affected, the president said in his state of the nation speech.
“The foundation of our society is the family,” says Putin.
One of his government's central goals is to increase the birth rate in Russia.
Vladimir Putin celebrates development of Russian army through deployment in Ukraine war
Update, 10:32 a.m.:
Vladimir Putin praises the Russian army at the beginning of his speech.
All branches of the armed forces have gained great experience in the past few years of the war in Ukraine.
This war was not started, but it will be ended as soon as possible, he claims.
With regard to the USA, Russia's President indicated his country's willingness to negotiate.
At the same time, Putin criticized the US government's “hostile actions” that were trying to lure Russia into a spiral of rearmament.
Putin dismissed reports of Russian nuclear weapons in space as Western propaganda.
Update, 10:22 a.m.:
At the beginning of his state of the nation speech, Vladimir Putin looks at the alleged successes of his government.
The “unity of Russia” was secured and “the brothers and sisters in Donbass” came to the aid.
Putin called the residents of the region in eastern Ukraine “our compatriots,” once again underlining Russia’s claim to these areas.
Vladimir Putin's State of the Nation Address begins
Update, 10:15 a.m.:
The wait is over.
Vladimir Putin steps behind the lectern on stage and begins this year's State of the Union address in Russia.
Update, 10:12 a.m.:
Vladimir Putin's speech on the state of the nation in Russia has still not begun.
In fact, that's no surprise.
In recent years, Russia's president has also been happy to keep high-ranking guests waiting for him.
Update, 9:56 a.m.:
Vladimir Putin's state of the nation speech in Russia this year begins in a few minutes.
According to Russia expert Anastassia Boutsko, it is to be expected that the president will give an outlook on the next six years, address the soldiers fighting in the Ukraine war and also talk about a lot of “trifles”.
Putin is said to have written his own State of the Nation speech
Update from February 29th, 9:45 a.m.:
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin wrote the text of his state of the nation speech himself.
The Russian president is said to have previously had “dozens of phone calls and personal conversations” with his ministers and government representatives to discuss the content of his speech.
Update from February 29th, 9:21 a.m.:
Vladimir Putin's state of the nation speech in Russia will begin in less than an hour.
It is not known how long the president will speak this time.
According to a report by the Tass
news agency, his longest speech of this kind in 2018 lasted
115 minutes.
Putin spoke the shortest times in 2004 and 2005, when he spoke for 48 minutes each.
On average, a State of the Union address lasts 70 minutes.
Putin's speech to the nation: Statement on the situation in the Ukraine war expected
Update from February 29th, 8:35 a.m.:
In his speech, Vladimir Putin will probably also comment on the current situation in the Ukraine war.
The Russian troops recently recorded strategic victories on the front.
A good two weeks before the presidential election, the 71-year-old head of state would like to use his speech to inform the Federal Assembly - that is, the State Duma and the Federation Council - about his economic, social and foreign policy goals for the coming year.
Putin will not have to expect any opposition after his State of the Nation speech.
The opposition in Russia has largely been silenced.
His fiercest opponent, Alexei Navalny, will be buried tomorrow, Friday.
The Kremlin critic died a few days ago in a prison camp in the Arctic Circle under circumstances that are still unclear.
Russian President Putin addresses the people
First report from February 29, 2024:
Moscow – ruler Vladimir Putin has his next big appearance.
On Thursday (February 29), the Russian president will deliver his highly anticipated State of the Union address.
Around two weeks before the Russian election, Putin wants to inform the people of Russia about his goals for the coming year.
Putin delivers the speech to the Federal Assembly, which is made up of the State Duma and the Federation Council, the lower and upper houses of the Russian parliament.
The Kremlin announced this in Moscow.
Putin could talk about this in his state of the nation speech before the Russia election
What Putin will talk about in Moscow is still unclear.
The
Kommersant
daily reported that Putin would address the Ukraine war, Russia's war aims, the country's sovereignty, the economic and social situation and family values.
Putin regularly comments on all of the topics mentioned.
According to
Kommersant,
the speech is also likely to have an election campaign character.
The Kremlin chief traditionally avoids debates with other candidates.
What time does Vladimir Putin's State of the Union speech start?
State news agencies such as TASS did not initially provide a time for the start of Vladimir Putin's speech.
According to a report by
Komsomolskaya Pravda (KP),
the show starts at 10 a.m. German time, which means 12 p.m. in Moscow.
According to KP
, Putin's appearance will be broadcast
by all Russian state broadcasters.
However, it is certain that Putin will be confirmed in office for the fifth time in the presidential election scheduled for March 15-17.
The opposition is not allowed in the election.
Putin's competitors support the Kremlin chief's policies and, from the point of view of government critics, only serve as a backdrop.
A look at the polls for the Russian election also shows that Putin has no reason to fear anyone.
Here is an overall alphabetical overview of the candidates for the 2024 Russia election:
candidate |
Party/office/position |
|---|---|
Nikolai Kharitonov |
Duma deputy |
Vladislav Davankov |
Deputy Chairman of the Duma |
Wladimir Putin |
Russian President |
Leonid Slutsky |
Duma member |
Russian President Putin could speak about Transnistria at the State of the Union address
The breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria could also become a topic at the state of the nation address.
The pro-Russian separatists ruling there met for a special congress the day before Putin's speech.
According to Russian media, they have asked for “protection” from Moldova.
Local opposition politician Gennady Chorba had previously said it was “very likely” that MPs from Transnistria would apply to join Russia.
Tschorba suspects that Putin could announce his acceptance of the proposal during his State of the Nation address.
Moldova has long feared that it will become Putin's next victim.
Putin gives his 19th state of the nation speech to parliament in Russia
The State of the Union Address is a constitutionally mandated annual duty of the President.
It will be Putin's 19th speech of this kind.
Putin last gave the State of the Union address in February 2023 and declared the suspension of the New Start nuclear disarmament treaty.
He skipped the speech in the first year of the war.
(cs with agencies)