December 31 is also Vladimir Putin’s traditional New Year’s speech. An essential point of the celebrations in Russia, with this year, inevitably, a particular stake in the context of the war in Ukraine.
Instead of the usual Kremlin walls, this year it was in front of a group of soldiers in uniform that Vladimir Putin pronounced his traditional New Year’s greetings. The change is symbolic: these greetings are wishes of warand all the classic stages of this highly codified exercise have been revisited in this context.
The review of the past year, for example, clearly echoes this. 2022 has been, for the Russian president, a year “ difficult decisions ” and ” fateful events “. Russia, hammered Vladimir Poutine“ fight for true independence “, she “ protects its people in its historic territories “. This is what the Russian president calls the Ukrainian regions he annexed this summer. A tribute was also paid to the soldiers of ” special military operation “, of the ” hero “performing a” sacred duty “.
And then, the Russian president then gave way to forecasts for 2023. This is a year in which Vladimir Putin predicts that “ the fate of Russia in the undeclared war waged on him by the West. “ Westerners lied to us talking about peace to prepare to attack us “, he assures, “ they cynically use Ukraine and its people to weaken and divide Russia “. ” But we will prevail concludes Vladimir Putin. All before finally giving way to New Year’s Eve.