On Thursday afternoon, the President of Russia gave his annual speech, a speech that lasted well over two hours.
This happens only a few weeks before he probably easily wins the presidential election.
Vladimir Putin began his speech by attacking Western countries, saying the West wants to weaken Russia from within.
Putin on his way to give this year’s speech.
Photo: ALEXANDER NEMENOV / AFP
He says that Russia must strengthen its western military areas with soldiers and weapons as Finland and Sweden have become members of NATO.
Threatened with nuclear weapons
He claims that the West provoked conflict in Ukraine, but now tries to say that Russia poses a danger to Europe.
– They should eventually realize that we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory, Putin said.
– The West invents things to scare the whole world with. There is a real possibility that nuclear weapons will be used. That would mean destroying the whole world.
– Don’t they understand that? They have forgotten what war is, Putin said.
– The threat was very clear, comments NRK’s Jan Espen Kruse.
– Will scare the West
– Putin is rattling his sabers to deter, says senior researcher Julie Wilhelmsen at the Norwegian Foreign Policy Institute to NRK.
Wilhelmsen calls the situation “scary”. She points out that until now the war in Ukraine has been between Russian soldiers and Ukrainian soldiers.
Senior researcher at Nupi, Julie Wilhelmsen.
Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB
The recent statement by French President Macron that it cannot be ruled out that Western countries will send soldiers to Ukraine changes the situation.
– The fact that Putin intimidates with nuclear weapons is part of a dynamic game, says the senior researcher at Nupi.
Support for the war
– Our military departments are making progress in several places, they are constantly liberating new areas. We are not the ones who started the war. I have said that several times. We are doing everything to stop the war, Putin said.
The president claims that most citizens support his decision to send thousands of troops into Ukraine two years ago.
– Russia will forever remember its fallen heroes, Putin said and asked for a minute’s silence.
Russian soldier in Avdiivka in Ukraine on February 19. Most Russians support the war in Ukraine.
Photo: AP
According to a Russian survey, the majority of Russians are still against a new mobilization, writes Russianfield.
A survey conducted by Levadashows that three out of four Russians still support the invasion, but that includes those who “lean towards a yes”.
When asked about “completely clear support”, 53 per cent answered yes in March 2022, while only 39 per cent answered the same in November 2023.
At the same time, data from Russian Field and Levada show that more Russians clearly prefer peace talks to a continuation of the war.
Firefighting in Kharkiv, Ukraine, after a Russian attack, February 2024.
Photo: Yevhen Titov / AP
Have to give birth to more children
The population of Russia is decreasing by several hundred thousand every year. The most important explanation is low birth rates. This is the biggest threat to the country’s security, according to the national security strategy.
Putin said that it is absolutely necessary to give birth to more children. He therefore proposed a number of support measures for families with children, especially those with three or more children. There are currently 2 million such families in the country.
In his annual speech, Putin asked Russian women to give birth to more children. The photo shows a woman in Kaliningrad, Marina Nikoleva. with her newborn child. The picture was taken on 31 October 2011.
Foto: STRINGER/RUSSIA / Reuters
Putin’s proposed support measures:
- Subsidized mortgages with an interest rate of 6% must also be given to families with only one child. Previously, two were a requirement.
- Families with two or more children receive additional tax relief. The deduction per children more than double from the third child onwards.
- The scheme with a one-off payment to mothers, “mother’s capital”, is extended until 2030. For the first child it is now 630,000 rubles (72,400 kroner), for subsequent children it is less.
- Families with three or more children will have increased access to social support. Last year, 11 million people received such support, now the number is to be increased to 13.5 million.
2024 has been declared the “year of the family” in Russia.
– It is he who ensures that the values are transferred from generation to generation. The most important thing is to give birth to children, to raise them and to pass on the values of our great, multinational people, said President Putin.
– A different civilization than the West
Julie Wilhelmsen believes that Putin’s speech focused on family and childbirth, showing the president’s priorities.
– Putin has a kind of ideology where part of it is the idea that Russia represents a different type of civilization than the West.
– Putin wants to show that Russia is a society where “God is not dead”, a society that cares about the family, says Wilhelmsen.
Economic sovereignty
President Putin said the goal is to become No. 4 in the world in terms of purchasing power. Today, the country is number five, according to Putin. That view is disputed.
But the Russian economy is clearly doing far better than many had thought.
Putin is in campaign mode ahead of the presidential election on 15-17. March. He mentioned a number of sub-goals and measures to ensure economic growth and technological sovereignty in the next presidential term, i.e. until 2030.
Putin’s interim goals:
- Russian industry will be among the 25 most robotized in the world in 2030
- Hundreds of new companies based on artificial intelligence will be opened every year. The state sets aside money to contribute with support
- The state invests heavily in developing infrastructure, especially roads and railways. The route network for small aircraft in the regions is to be expanded.
- State support for programs to train future managers. Both private and state enterprises are required to invite young people in education to ensure a “professional orientation” early in their education. Private companies must increase their support for research.
- A number of schemes with reasonable loans and deductions for investments are intended to stimulate small and medium-sized enterprises. According to Putin, there are 240,000 of them in Russia.
- The government and elected representatives are required to come up with proposals for tax schemes that stimulate investment
- Doctors and teachers in the Arctic and the “Far East” are to receive double the extra bonus for the disadvantage of working decentralized and in harsh climates
- Grain exports are to be increased by 50% by 2030.
– Stop drinking. Go skiing!
Putin informed that the average life expectancy in Russia is now 73 years, but that the wish is for it to be higher.
A project called “Long and Active Life” is therefore being planned, and a fight against cancer and diabetes.
As a measure to increase the number of people who regularly do sports, people who exercise will be able to get tax credits.
The message from the authorities is:
– Stop drinking, go skiing.
Putin informs that the consumption of alcohol, primarily spirits, is decreasing, and that this contributes to the nation’s health.
Putin has no formal campaign programme. But the cinemas in 20 cities had opened so that people could follow the speech about the state of the kingdom on the big screen.