Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of starting the Ukraine war and that "Russia is using force to stop it". In his state of the nation address, he alleged that the "West has suppressed media and is blocking investigations into corruption in their countries". Putin's speech comes just ahead of the first anniversary of Moscow's offensive in Ukraine.

Putin said that the responsibility for escalation in Ukraine lies with western elites. "It is impossible to defeat Russia on the battlefield. The existence of our country is at stake and the West is trying to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia," he said.

"Ukraine and Donbas have become a symbol of total lies," Putin said while accusing the West of withdrawing from "fundamental agreements" and giving "hypocritical statements" as well as expanding Nato and "covering us with an umbrella".

"I want to repeat: it is them who are culpable for the war, and we are using force to stop it," Putin said as the audience applauded.

He added that the West is trying to turn a local conflict into a global conflict. He claimed the Ukrainian people had become “hostages of their western masters” who occupied the country in political, economic and military terms.

Map showing the situation in Ukraine, as of February 21 (Credit: AFP)

Russia warns of testing nuclear weapons if...

Vladimir Putin announced that Russia will suspend participation in New Start nuclear treaty — a strategic arms reduction treaty between the US and Russia. "I am forced to announce today that Russia is suspending its participation in the strategic offensive arms treaty," he said.

He also said that Russia needs to be ready to test nuclear weapons if the US does so first. Earlier in his speech, he said the relationship between Russia and the US has deteriorated, and “this was the initiative of the US”.

New Start is the last remaining nuclear arms deal between Russia and the US. It was extended for five years in 2021. Originally signed in 2010, the treaty limits each side to 1,550 long-range nuclear warheads, a lower number than under the previous Start deal, BBC reported.

"Russia a patient negotiator"

Putin alleged that Ukraine's next goal was to strike Crimea and Sevastopol. "We are in a difficult time," he said, adding that Russia "did everything possible to resolve the Donbas problem peacefully".

"We were patient in our negotiations. However, behind our backs, a completely different scenario was being prepared, Putin said while hitting out Ukraine. "They (the West) were just playing for time, closing their eyes to political assassinations, mistreatment of believers," he said.

"We remember Ukraine's attempts to acquire nuclear weapons...Only the US has a large number of military bases globally," he added.

'Western sanctions have not succeeded'

Putin said Western sanctions designed to make the Russian people "suffer" had not succeeded, and claims the share of Russian roubles in international transactions has "doubled".

Putin also wants to build a safe system of international payments that will reduce dependence on the West. "We must not repeat our mistakes. We must not destroy our economy", he was quoted by the BBC as saying.

On God, same-sex marriage

Putin also spoke on God and same-sex marriage, saying the West was maligning the idea of deity by trying to give God a gender-neutral identity. "The Church of England is considering a version of a 'gender-neutral' God. They don’t know what they’re doing."

On same-sex marriage, Putin said, "They're destroying the institution of family. Their cultural-historical identity, and various perversions with regards to children. Priests are forced to recognize and officiate same-sex weddings. The family is a union between woman and man."

"They are twisting historic facts," he said.

State funds for soldiers and veterans

In his speech, Putin gave special attention to the soldiers and veterans of the nation. He announced: "Every veteran should have own personal social worker or coordinator who will solve all the problems in real time. "We should make sure that this foundation is operational."

Putin had earlier announced partial mobilisation of troops amid the Ukraine invasion, urging its citizens to fight for the country in war-hit region. "Russia will decide the tasks of the special military operation step by step," the president said.

Putin announced a state fund to support veterans and the families of fallen soldiers in response to Russia’s so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine. He said the fund would provide “social, medical and psychological support” to soldiers and their families. "The funds would contribute toward education, entrepreneurship, career development and home care," he said.

The Russian president also thanked “military journalists” who, he said, are “risking their lives to tell the truth to the whole world". He praised mothers, wives, doctors, nurses, railway workers, engineers, agricultural workers for their role in helping the war effort.

Putin further thanked the residents of the four Ukrainian territories which "voted" to join Russia in a widely discredited referendum last autumn. "There was nothing braver than your decision to be with Russia, with your motherland," he said.

'Russia's economy overcame all the risks'

"We have decreased unemployment even against all the difficulties. Comparing the unemployment rate with pre-pandemic level, Putin said, "Now, it's 3.7 percent, that the record low number...The economy of Russia overcome the risks it has."

Speaking about Russia’s reduced GDP figures, Putin claimed that instead of the Russian economy collapsing, it has been restructured, and Russia still does business with many areas of the world.

He added that he plans to increase the export of grain to 60 million tonnes by the end of 2023. He said it would have been a "fairytale" a few years ago to predict this level of increase would happen. Putin further claimed that blockades preventing grain exports from Ukraine pushed prices up globally over the past year.

He spoke about the freedom of entrepreneurship and urged businessmen to make money and invest in Russia. He further spoke about revising some criminal law conditions.

(Edited by : Pradeep John)

First Published:Feb 21, 2023 2:49 PM IST