Dear citizens of Russia, dear friends!
The year 2022 ends. It has been a year of difficult, but essential decisions. We have taken very important steps towards achieving the full sovereignty of Russia and the robust consolidation of our partnership. It has been a year that has put many things in their place, by clearly separating firmness and heroism from betrayal and cowardice, which has shown that there is no greater force than love for family members and loved ones, loyalty to friends and comrades at the front, and fidelity to the homeland.
It has been a year of truly pivotal events that have determined our destiny. They have been a turning point that lays the foundations for our common future, for our true independence. That is what we are fighting for now.
We defend our compatriots in our historical territories, in the new subjects of the Russian Federation.
Together we are building and creating. The most important thing is the fate of Russia. Defending the homeland is our sacred duty before our ancestors and before our descendants. Moral and historical truth is on our side.
The year that is ending has brought great and cardinal changes, both for our country and for the whole world. It has been full of worry, restlessness and unease, but our multinational people, as they were in all the difficult times of Russian history, have shown their courage and dignity. With words and deeds, it has supported the defenders of the homeland, our soldiers and officers, all the participants in the special military operation. We have always known, and today we are again convinced of it, that the sovereign, independent and secure future of Russia depends only on us and on our strength and will.
Western elites for years have hypocritically been assuring us that they had peaceful intentions, among other things, regarding the resolution of the very serious conflict in Donbass. But in reality, what they were doing was encouraging on a global scale the neo-Nazis who continued to carry out openly terrorist military actions against the civilian population of the people’s republics of Donbass.
The West has been lying about peace while preparing for aggression. Today he recognizes it without being ashamed, with an uncovered face. They cynically use Ukraine and its people to weaken and divide Russia. We have never allowed it and we will never allow it to anyone. Russia’s military, militiamen and volunteers are now fighting for their land, for truth and justice, so that peace and security guarantees are reliably safeguarded for Russia. They are all our heroes. They are the ones who now face the most difficult. With all my heart, I congratulate the New Year to all the participants in the special military operation, to those who are now here, next to me, to those who are at the front or in areas close to it, to those who are undergoing training in training centers to later go into combat, to those who are in hospitals or who have already returned home after having fulfilled their duty. To all those who are now on duty in strategic military units, to all members of the armed forces of Russia.
Dear colleagues, I thank you for your heroic service. Our entire huge country is proud of your strength of spirit, steadfastness and courage. Millions of people support you with their hearts and souls. And, no doubt, they will toast you at your New Year’s table. Many thanks to everyone who contributes to military operations: to the drivers and railway employees who supply the front; to the doctors and auxiliaries, to the nurses who fight for the lives of soldiers and care for wounded civilians. I am grateful to the workers and engineers of our military and other factories who today give themselves completely to their work. To the builders who build civilian facilities and defensive fortifications, they help rebuild the shattered cities and towns of Donbass and Novorossia.
Dear friends, Russia has been living under sanctions since the events in Crimea in 2014. But this year they have declared a real sanctions war on us. Those who started it expected a total destruction of our industry, and our financial and transportation system. However, this has not happened because between all of us we have created a solid margin of resistance. Everything we have done and continue to do in this area is aimed at strengthening our sovereignty in the most important sector: the economy. And our fight for ourselves, for our interests and our future, without a doubt, is an inspiring example for other States: in their search for a just and multipolar world order. I consider it very important that, during this year that is coming to an end, human qualities such as mercy, solidarity and kindness have gained special value for our people.
More and more people feel the need to help others. They join on their own initiative, without any official instructions. I want to thank you for your empathy, responsibility and cordiality, for getting involved in the common cause, being people of different ages and income levels. They organize the storage and transportation of shipments for our fighters in the combat zone and for affected residents of cities and towns. They organize rest trips for the children of the new subjects of the Russian Federation.
You, dear friends, give enormous support to the families of the fallen combatants. They have given their lives to protect the lives of other people. I understand how difficult this New Year’s Eve is for your wives, sons, daughters and parents, who raised true heroes. We will do everything possible to help the families of our fallen comrades, raise their children, give them a decent education, provide them with a profession. With all my heart I share your pain and ask you to accept my sincerest words of support.
Dear friends, in all times, including the most difficult, our country has celebrated the arrival of the new year. It was and always will be a holiday that is extremely loved by all, which has the magical gift of bringing out their best qualities in people, nourishing the meaning of traditional family values, the sense of kindness, generosity and trust.
When the new year is received, everyone tries to make their relatives happy, pay attention to them and warm their souls; giving them something they had dreamed of, seeing the enthusiasm in the children’s eyes, feeling the touching gratitude with which parents receive our attention, the older generation who knows how to appreciate these flashes of happiness.
Friends, now is the most appropriate time to leave behind all offenses and personal misunderstandings, to express to our loved ones our tender affection, our love, and how important it is to take care of each other. Always, at any time. May these words from the heart and noble sentiments give us the greatest possible spiritual strength, the assurance that together we will be able to overcome all difficulties and preserve the greatness and independence of our country. We will only go forward, to win, for the good of our families and for Russia, for the future of our beloved and only homeland. Happy New Year, dear friends! Happy New Year 2023!
Vladimir Putin
