Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, in a ranting speech before a presidential election campaign, cast Moscow’s military action in Ukraine as an existential battle against purported attempts by the West to destroy Russia.
Quick Read
- Framing Military Action in Ukraine: Putin characterized Russia’s military involvement in Ukraine as a crucial battle against Western efforts to destroy Russia.
- Expected Election Bid: Putin, having been in power for over two decades, is anticipated to announce his candidacy for another six-year term in the upcoming presidential election in March.
- Defense of Russian Sovereignty: He asserted Russia’s right to exist as a strong, independent power, accusing the U.S. and its allies of attempts to dismantle and exploit Russia.
- Condemnation by Ukraine and Allies: Ukraine and Western allies have denounced Russia’s actions in Ukraine as unprovoked aggression.
- Claim of Global Significance: Putin argued that Russia’s fight extends beyond its own freedom to that of the entire world.
- Criticism of Western Attitudes: He criticized Western “Russophobia” and portrayed the West as intolerant of Russia’s diverse cultures and traditions.
- Warning Against External Interference: Putin warned of efforts to create internal conflicts in Russia through external interference, promising to thwart any such attempts.
- Increased Crackdown on Dissent: The Russian government has escalated its suppression of dissent, with arrests of protesters and activists, and the silencing of independent media.
- Critique of U.S.-Dominated Order: Putin declared the current global order, dominated by the U.S., as obsolete and advocated for Russia’s role in establishing a more equitable world order.
- Emphasis on Russia’s Role in World Stability: He concluded by stating that a sovereign, powerful Russia is essential for a stable and enduring world order.
The Associated Press has the story:
Putin accuses the West of trying to ‘dismember & plunder Russia’ in a ranting speech
Newslooks- MOSCOW (AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, in a ranting speech before a presidential election campaign, cast Moscow’s military action in Ukraine as an existential battle against purported attempts by the West to destroy Russia.
Putin, who has been in power for more than two decades and is the longest-serving Russian leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, is expected to soon declare his intention to seek another six-year term in a presidential election next March.
“We are defending the security and well-being of our people, the highest, historical right to be Russia — a strong, independent power, a country-civilization,” Putin said, accusing the U.S. and its allies of trying to “dismember and plunder” Russia.
Ukraine and its Western allies have condemned the Russian action against Ukraine as an unprovoked act of aggression.
“We are now fighting for the freedom of not only Russia, but the whole world,” Putin said in a speech to participants of a meeting organized by the Russian Orthodox Church.
He denounced what he described as Western “Russophobia,” claiming that “our diversity and unity of cultures, traditions, languages, and ethnic groups simply don’t fit into the logic of Western racists and colonialists, into their cruel scheme of total depersonalization, disunity, suppression and exploitation.”
“If they can’t do it by force, they will try to sow strife,” he said, vowing to block “any outside interference, provocations with the aim of causing interethnic or interreligious conflicts as aggressive actions against our country, as an attempt to once again foment terrorism and extremism in Russia as a tool to fight us.”
Russian authorities have intensified their crackdown on dissent amid the fighting in Ukraine, arresting and imprisoning protesters and activists and silencing independent news outlets.
Putin said that the U.S.-dominated global order has become increasingly decrepit, declaring that “it is our country that is now at the forefront of creating a more equitable world order.”
“And I want to emphasize: without a sovereign, strong Russia, no lasting, stable world order is possible,” he said.
