Vladimir Putin was today invested in a new mandate to lead Russia. What statements did the Russian leader make during the ceremony

UPDATE Vladimir Putin was officially inaugurated as president of Russia. The fifth term begins

Vladimir Putin has officially taken the oath as president of Russia, marking the beginning of his fifth term, notes Sky News.

The Kremlin leader began his speech by thanking the nation for its support and the military fighting his war in Ukraine.

“I would like to thank the participants of the special military operation, I would like to thank all those who fight for our homeland,” Putin said during the ceremony.

“I see the deep understanding of our historical role to defend our choice, to defend our freedom and to defend the national interests of Russia. We will go through this difficult period and we will be successful,” he says.

During the speech, President Vladimir Putin also spoke about Russia’s willingness to collaborate with Western countries: “We do not even refuse dialogue with Western countries,” he said. He says that Russia is ready to become an “honest” partner. with whoever is willing.

He ended his speech with a series of promises to the Russian people: “I will do everything possible, everything within my abilities to justify your trust.

“We are one great nation and together we will overcome all obstacles and implement and achieve everything we dream of. Together we will win,” concluded the Kremlin leader, according to Sky News.

INITIAL NEWS

Vladimir Putin’s inauguration ceremony for his fifth term as president of Russia takes place on Tuesday, after he won the elections held in March. The new mandate, with a duration of six years, assures him the quality of president of Russia until 2030.

Russia’s March election, which took place weeks after his main opponent, Alexei Navalny, died in prison, was criticized internationally, with some officials reacting at the time as an illegitimate vote.

Ahead of Tuesday’s ceremony, Western countries ruled out their representatives attending the event earlier this week, including the Baltic states, the Czech Republic, Britain and Canada.

“We don’t celebrate with [un] aggressor. It’s also worth reminding that Putin is wanted for war crimes,” Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsakhna said of his country’s decision not to participate.

Which countries are participating in the inauguration ceremony of Vladimir Putin

right Euractive, various EU diplomats from about 20 European countries said they would not send representatives to Tuesday’s ceremony. However, France, Slovakia and Hungary have announced that their representatives will be present at the event.

A French diplomatic source told Reuters that “France will be represented by its ambassador in Russia”, although President Emmanuel Macron’s position regarding sending troops to Ukraine has become tougher recently.

Representatives from Slovakia and Hungary are also expected to participate in the inauguration ceremony of Vladimir Putin as the head of Russia. The two European states maintained ties with Moscow even after the beginning of the invasion from Ukraine and did not declare a clear position regarding the war.

The EU says “no”

The Interfax agency notes the fact that all the leaders of the European bloc were invited to the Kremlin ceremony, but the EU refused the invitation.

The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, declared that “he opposes the EU participating in this event in Moscow”.

Late on Monday evening, Peter Stano, an EU spokesman, said the bloc’s ambassador to Russia would not attend the inauguration, a position intended to be coordinated among all the bloc’s member states. Reuters.

“Our EU ambassador will not participate, most of the member states will not participate, but a few member states will participate – at ambassadorial level,” said the spokesperson, according to the quoted source.

Putin’s investiture ceremony in the Andreyevsky Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. Moscow time.