Vladimir Putin, embarking on his fifth term as Russia’s President, delivered an inaugural speech that highlighted his openness to dialogue with the West but firmly on equal terms. The elaborate ceremony, steeped in regal symbolism, saw Putin being honoured with the grandeur likened to that of a Russian tsar, in Moscow’s opulent Grand Kremlin Palace.
In the company of over 2,500 guests, including government officials and celebrities like American actor Steven Seagal, Putin placed his hand on the Russian Constitution and took the oath to defend it. Shortly after being sworn in, the Russian leader addressed the delicate matter of international relations, particularly the contentious dynamic between Russia and Western states.
“We do not refuse dialogue with Western states,” Putin stated, reinforcing his stance for talks on security and strategic stability. However, he emphasized the preconditions for such discussions: “But not from a position of strength, without any arrogance, arrogance and one’s own exclusivity, but only on equal terms, respecting each other’s interests.”
The Russian President’s speech comes amid a backdrop of deep-seated tensions, particularly following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine that has led to the worst fracture in relations between Russia and the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis. Putin’s tenure has been marked by a strengthening of Russia’s military prowess and assertiveness on the global stage, with the recent conflict in Ukraine exacerbating the divide.
Western perceptions of Putin have grown increasingly hostile, with U.S. President Joe Biden reportedly referring to him as a “crazy SOB”. Moreover, the West has regarded Putin as an autocrat and war criminal. Despite these views, Putin promised victory in Ukraine and stressed that all Russians were “answerable to our thousand-year history and our ancestors”.
Putin’s remarks on dialogue were echoed by Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, who interpreted Putin’s speech as “an invitation to the West to equal cooperation” and a show of Russia’s determination to ensure its own development and security. “From one side, this is an invitation to the West to equal cooperation and from the other side, it is the firm conviction that Russia will ensure its own development and security,” Naryshkin said.And if the West doesn’t want to talk? “Then let them think,” Naryshkin said with a smile.
This call for dialogue, however, was juxtaposed with a display of military might. Just a day before the inauguration, Putin ordered drills to practice the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons, following what Moscow described as threats from France, Britain, and the United States.
The inauguration was met with a mixed international response, with major Western powers such as the United States, Britain, and most EU nations boycotting the event. The U.S. clarified that they would not send any representation to the swearing-in, criticizing the election as neither free nor fair but nevertheless acknowledging Putin as the president of Russia.
Notably, Putin’s speech did not directly mention the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Still, it’s clear that his new term is set against the backdrop of ongoing military operations and rising nuclear tensions, with Russia indicating it would practice the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in its military exercises.
Domestically, Putin remains a figure of stability for many Russians, with Sergei Chemezov, a close ally, asserting that “Putin is stability for Russia rather than some sort of new person.” This sentiment of internal consolidation was shared by Sergei Kiriyenko, Putin’s first deputy chief of staff, who hailed the election as unprecedented in Russian history.
Relevant articles:
– ‘Tsar’ Putin tells the West: Russia will talk only on equal terms, reuters.com, 05/08/2024
– Vladimir Putin begins fifth term as Russian president at glittering Kremlin ceremony, The Associated Press, 05/07/2024
– Putin Says He Wants Dialogue With The West, Strategic News Global, 05/07/2024
– Ukraine war latest: Russia ‘developing nuclear power plant’ for joint moon base with China, Sky News, 05/08/2024