Navalny, World War III and the certainty that “the Russian electoral system is more transparent than that of the USA”: Putin’s victory speech

Re-elected Russian president said he had accepted that the main opponent would be handed over to the United States in a prisoner exchange, but that he “should never return to Russia”

It was expected, Charles Michel predicted a “crushing victory” and history was true: Vladimir Putin ended up re-elected Russian president with almost 90% of the votes. In his victory speech, the Kremlin leader also thanked everyone who left home to vote and assured that Russian society is now “consolidated and getting stronger”, considering that the protests “had no effect”, taking the opportunity to praise full transparency of the electoral process.

“The Russian electoral system is more transparent than that of the United States,” he said.

Navalny? “He died, it’s always sad”

Asked about Navalny’s death, Putin’s response was this: “He died, it’s always sad.” Adding further, however, that days before the death of his main opponent he had been informed that the idea was for Navalny to be part of a prisoner exchange with the West.

“I had accepted the prisoner exchange, but Navalny should never return to Russia,” Putin explained.

In view of the recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil, Putin guarantees that this is the reason why Moscow “has to defend its people with weapons”.

“Russians living on the border cannot be intimidated,” he said.

Conflict with NATO? “No one is interested in the threshold of World War III”

As for the war in Ukraine, the president guarantees that Kremlin forces are advancing on the ground with each passing day and that relations between Russia and China are a stabilizing factor, which will become even stronger in the coming years.

Faced with the French president’s proposal for a ceasefire during the Olympic Games, Putin says he is prepared to start talks, warning that a ‘yes’ given to Macron will always be with Russian interests at the forefront, but that ” France could play a role in a peace solution in Ukraine.”

With a conflict between Russia and NATO looking increasingly inevitable, Putin has no doubts: “This will take the world to the brink of World War III and no one is interested in that.”

Finally, a message to Russia’s enemies: “There is no democracy in the West, including in the United States.”