During his New Year’s greetings pronounced this Saturday in front of soldiers who fought in Ukraine, the Russian president estimated that the year 2022 had “laid the foundations for true independence from Russia”.
While kyiv and several regions of Ukraine are affected by new deadly strikes, Vladimir Putin decorated this Saturday several soldiers returning from combat in Ukraine. Sending them his wishes for the year 2023, the head of the Kremlin spoke of a past year full of “truly decisive and important events” which “lay the foundations (…) for our true independence”, while the armed conflict between the two countries has entered its tenth month.
“The West was lying about peace and preparing for aggression”
“This is what we are fighting for today, protecting our people in our own historical territories, in the new constituent entities of Russia,” he added, explaining that “moral and historical correctness” was “on the side” of Russia.
“That is what we are fighting for today, protecting our people in our own historical territories, in the new constituent entities of Russia,” he added.
A few hours earlier, the Kremlin had issued a decree no longer obliging soldiers and civil servants serving in Ukraine to declare “their income, expenses and property”. A provision is part of the Kremlin’s incentives to push the Russians to fight in Ukraine. The measure also applies to the “spouses and minor children” of the persons concerned and is retroactive from February 24, 2022, the date of the start of the Russian offensive.
After launching a military offensive against Ukraine in early February, Russia claimed in September the annexation of four Ukrainian territories that it controls at least partially, on the pattern of that of the Crimean peninsula in March 2014.
The Russian president also castigated “a real sanctions war that has been declared to us” by the West. “Those who started it expected the total destruction of our industry, our finances and our transport. That did not happen,” he added.
He accused the Americans and Europeans of “cynically using Ukraine and its people to weaken and divide Russia”. “The West was lying about peace and preparing for aggression. And today it is not ashamed to admit it, in broad daylight,” said the Russian head of state.
“Together we will overcome all difficulties and keep our country great and independent. We will go forward and win, for the good of our families and for the good of Russia,” he concluded.
