08:11 – New exchange between Putin and Macron
Still on the war in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin assured that Westerners were already present on the front: “We know it, we hear French and English speaking on site”. And the head of state remained faithful to his strategy of increasing the pressure with NATO while placing the responsibility on the West: “I think that everything is possible in the modern world. But I already have it says, and it is clear to everyone, that this conflict between Russia and NATO will be only a step towards a large-scale third world war.”
Vladimir Putin also had a word for Emmanuel Macron with whom the tone has been rising for a few weeks after the President of the Republic’s declarations on the possible sending of ground troops: “I would like France not to play this role which does not not aggravate the conflict, but rather do something to find peaceful solutions. France could play this role, but all is not yet lost.”
07:59 – Putin’s Russia will achieve “all its goals”
Vladimir Putin spoke after being assured of his victory on Sunday evening. In a long speech the master of the Kremlin assured that “all the objectives [de son pays] will be achieved” including those concerning the war in Ukraine. And on this subject, the re-elected president addressed the West: “It doesn’t matter who wants to intimidate us or how much, it doesn’t matter who wants to crush us or how much, our will or our conscience. No one has ever succeeded to do something similar in history. It didn’t work today and won’t work in the future.”
07:50 – Vladimir Putin re-elected in the first round, no surprise
The outcome of the presidential election in Russia was a foregone conclusion and, unsurprisingly, Vladimir Putin was re-elected as head of the Kremlin for another six years with 87% of the vote. This is the best score ever obtained by Vladimir Putin during an election. But this result is decried by the Russian opposition and by Western leaders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced a master of the Kremlin “drunk with power” and wanting to “reign forever”, the head of British diplomacy David Cameron regretted the absence of “free and fair” elections.