Status: December 31, 2021 5:27 p.m.
His main goal for 2022 is more prosperity for the Russians, said President Putin in his address at the turn of the year. In his view of 2021, in addition to Corona, foreign policy played a major role. Here Putin is self-confident.
In his address at the turn of the year, Russian President Vladimir Putin drew a positive conclusion on his foreign policy, which is extremely controversial, especially outside his own country. “We have resolutely and consistently defended our national interests, the security of the country and its citizens,” said the head of state in his traditional New Year’s address.
The year 2021 was marked by growing tensions between Russia and Western states over the Ukraine conflict. Just a few hours before the speech was broadcast, Putin had phoned US President Joe Biden about the conflict. According to the White House, Biden threatened severe sanctions and countermeasures if Russian troops invade Ukraine. At the same time he called for de-escalation. Putin, for his part, warned against further sanctions against Russia.
Putin wants to create more prosperity
The Russian authorities have cracked down on organizations and activists critical of the Kremlin in recent months. Among other things, the well-known opposition activist Alexei Navalny was arrested in February.
In his address, Putin said that the “main goal” for the coming years would be to improve “the prosperity and quality of life of the people”. He called on his compatriots, whom he addressed as “dear friends”, to face the “good changes ahead” together.
Memory of the corona dead
In his address, the Kremlin chief also remembered the many corona deaths in the country. “I would like to express my sincere condolences to all those who have lost relatives and close people,” he said, while at the same time paying tribute to all those who “save and care for the sick”. Russia is one of the countries most affected by the pandemic in the world. According to figures from the Russian statistics agency on Thursday, more than 71,000 people died as a result of a corona infection in November alone.
The address was first broadcast in the far east of Russia because the year 2022 began earlier there than in the European part of the country, which extends over eleven time zones. In the capital, Moscow, the speech will only be shown shortly before midnight (10:00 p.m. CET).