Only Stalin spent more years in the role. The former Soviet dictator led the USSR for 29 years. Vladimir Putin, today sworn in as President again, will complete 30 long years of leadership (presidential; he was also prime minister) in 2030, at the end of his term — and will be able to run again (that’s what the Constitution says for him, Putin, “tailored” magazine in 2020) at least once again.
In Putin’s inauguration speech at the Grand Kremlin Palace, the five-time President pointed to the West. Prepared to “dialogue” and become an “honest partner”, Vladimir Putin also launched barbs: “We will see if they continue to hinder the development of our country and put pressure on our country or if they look for ways to cooperate with us”.
Regarding these elections, which the West did not even consider to be free or fair, Putin thanked those who trusted him. “We are a unique and great nation and, together, we will overcome all obstacles and achieve everything we dream of.” Regarding the offensive in Ukraine, a new moment of gratitude: “I would like to thank the participants in the special military operation. I would like to thank everyone who is fighting for our homeland.”
More notable than the presences, many absences were noted in this inauguration. France sent an ambassador, Hungary also did so. Slovakia deployed a chargé d’affaires. And it was all from the European Union. In fact, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, also absent, explained the day before that it would be a “contradiction” for EU countries to be present. “It is very difficult to understand for Ukrainians and for many people around the world,” added Borrell, remembering that Putin has an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for him.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov preferred, however, to see this glass as half full — and minimized the absence of diplomatic representatives and Western officials. “First of all, this [cerimónia] it is for the citizens of Russia who voted for their President, everything else is secondary. Retaliate? I do not believe this is a reason to retaliate”, assured the spokesperson.
On another note, on the day that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons stated that the information received (the USA accused Moscow of using chloropicrin against Kiev’s troops) regarding the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine is “insufficiently substantiated”, Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus and Putin loyalist, ordered this Tuesday exercises with Russian tactical nuclear weapons, installed there in 2023. Lukashenko did it today, Putin ordered (although for “the near future) the same on Monday. they are against “threats from the West”.
The Western threat that triggered this appears to have been Macron. The French President insisted, in an interview last week, that if Russia “manages to break through the front lines, if there was a Ukrainian request, we should legitimately raise the question” of sending Western military personnel to Ukrainian soil.
In addition to considering nuclear exercises, the Kremlin also invited the French ambassador to a meeting, where he denounced Paris’s “provocative” policy regarding the conflict in Ukraine. France reacted through a statement released today by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “We found that diplomatic channels are once again hijacked for the purposes of manipulating information and intimidation.”
Visiting Europe (this is the first time in five years), Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Macron in Paris: “We oppose the use of the Ukrainian crisis to blame others, defame a third country and trigger a new Cold War.” , and then remember that China has “a positive role” in the peace negotiations. Macron listened, agreed and would praise Beijing’s “commitments” by “refraining from selling weapons” to Moscow.
OTHER NEWS
⇒ The Security Service of Ukraine announced this Tuesday that it had arrested two colonels from the State Protection Department for their involvement in a Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “The terrorist attack, which was supposed to be a gift to Putin before taking office, was in fact a failure of the Russian special services. But we must not forget that the enemy is strong and experienced and cannot be underestimated”, warned Vasili Maliuk, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine.
⇒ The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called on Russia to “immediately stop” attacks on independent journalists in the country. “The continued attacks on freedom of expression and the criminalization of journalism in Russia are very disturbing”, highlighted High Commissioner Volker Türk, recalling that “at least 30 journalists are currently detained in Russia on various criminal charges”. He added: Of these, “at least seven were subject to administrative or criminal charges, namely for criticizing Russia’s actions in Ukraine”.
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