2023 Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly

On 21 February 2023, almost a year after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian president Vladimir Putin delivered an address to the Federal Assembly, at Gostiny Dvor in Moscow, Russia.[3][5] This was the first Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly since the start of the invasion; Putin did not deliver such an address in 2022.[6][7][lower-alpha 1]

Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly
Vladimir Putin delivering the speech at Moscow's Gostiny Dvor
Native name Послание президента России Федеральному собранию
Date21 February 2023 (2023-02-21)
Time12:05 MSK (09:05 UTC)[1]
Duration105 minutes[2][1]
VenueGostiny Dvor
LocationMoscow, Russia
Coordinates55.7540°N 37.6255°E / 55.7540; 37.6255
TypePresidential Address to the Federal Assembly
ParticipantsVladimir Putin
External media
Images
image icon Television display in Luhansk[3]
image icon Screen on Volgograd business center[3]
image icon Digital billboard in Sevastopol[3]
image icon Display on Leninsky Prospekt, Moscow[3]
Video
video icon The speech, in its entirety (in Russian)[4]

During the address, Putin asserted that the West had started the war, and that Russia had been using force to end it.[9][10][11][12] He stated that the Ukrainian people were hostages of the Ukrainian government.[6][10][13][12] Putin also said that the West had planned to turn a local conflict into a global one, and that the conflict represented an existential threat to Russia.[9][10][12] He added that it was impossible to defeat Russia, and vowed to continue fighting in Ukraine.[6][10][12] He also praised the people of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia for the choice they made during the previous year's annexation referendums.[10][12] Near the end of his speech, Putin announced that Russia would be suspending its participation in the nuclear disarmament treaty New START.[14][1][12]

Putin's address was simultaneously broadcast on television and in schools and government buildings, as well as displayed on large screens in public places in Russia and the occupied territories of Ukraine.[3] It was delivered a day after U.S. president Joe Biden had made a surprise visit to Kyiv, his first to Ukraine since the start of the invasion.[15][16][17][lower-alpha 2] Biden also delivered a speech in Warsaw, Poland, hours after Putin had made his presidential address.[18][11][15] The following day, Putin made a brief appearance at a rally at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow commemorating Defender of the Fatherland Day.[19][20]

See also

Notes
  1. The Russian constitution requires the president to address the Federal Assembly annually.[7] TASS reported that Putin stated that there was no address in 2022 "because the situation was unfolding very quickly and it was difficult 'to fix the results at a specific point, as well as specific plans for the near future.'"[8]
  2. Russian officials were informed about the trip hours before it began.[17]

References
  1. "Послание Владимира Путина Федеральному собранию". Коммерсантъ (in Russian). 21 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  2. "Putin thought enemies would 'roll over' but he was wrong, says Joe Biden in major speech in Poland – as it happened". the Guardian. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  3. Times, The Moscow. "In Photos: How Putin's Address Really Was One to the Entire Nation - The Moscow Times". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  4. "Послание Президента Федеральному Собранию". Президент России. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  5. "Ukraine: Why do world leaders take the night train to Kyiv? – DW – 06/16/2022". dw.com. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  6. "Putin blames war on West, suspends nuclear disarmament pact – DW – 02/21/2023". dw.com. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  7. "Putin planning Federal Assembly address for February 21, followed by 'large-scale concert-rally' at Luzhniki Stadium on February 22 — Meduza". Meduza. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  8. "Putin to deliver State of the Nation Address to Federal Assembly on Feb 21 — Kremlin". TASS. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  9. "Putin promotes Russian escalation in annual speech". BBC News. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  10. "Putin thought enemies would 'roll over' but he was wrong, says Joe Biden in major speech in Poland – as it happened". the Guardian. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  11. "Putin says Russia will stop participating in its last nuclear treaty with the U.S." NPR. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  12. "Presidential Address to Federal Assembly". President of Russia (in Russian). 21 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  13. Sajjad, Shyema. "Ukraine updates: West not plotting to attack Russia, Biden says | Russia-Ukraine war News | Al Jazeera". aljazeera.com. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  14. "Joe Biden says Russian forces in disarray after year of war in Ukraine". the Guardian. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  15. "'Our Support Will Not Waver,' Biden Says After Putin Signals Sharper Break". nytimes.com. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  16. Liptak, Kevin. "Biden makes surprise visit to Ukraine for first time since full-scale war began | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  17. "How Biden's surprise trip to Kyiv was kept secret - but not from Russia". Reuters. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  18. "Putin thought enemies would 'roll over' but he was wrong, says Joe Biden in major speech in Poland – as it happened". the Guardian. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  19. "Russia fighting for its 'historical lands': Putin". France 24. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  20. Times, The Moscow. "Putin Says Russia Fighting for 'Historical Lands' at Pro-War Rally - The Moscow Times". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
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