Putin announces New START's suspension
On 21 February 2023 , almost a year after Russia launched
a full-scale invasion of Ukraine , Russian president
Vladimir Putin delivered an address to the
Federal Assembly , at
Gostiny Dvor in
Moscow , Russia.
[3]
[5] This was the first
Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly since the start of the invasion; Putin did not deliver such an address in 2022.
[6]
[7]
[a]
Overview
During the address, Putin asserted that
the West had started the war, and that Russia had been using force to end it.
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12] He stated that the
Ukrainian people were hostages of the
Ukrainian government .
[6]
[10]
[13]
[12] Putin also said that the West had planned to turn a local conflict into a global one, and that the conflict represented an existential threat to Russia.
[9]
[10]
[12] He added that it was impossible to defeat Russia, and vowed to continue fighting in Ukraine.
[6]
[10]
[12] He also praised the people of
Luhansk ,
Donetsk ,
Kherson , and
Zaporizhzhia for the choice they made during
the previous year's annexation referendums .
[10]
[12] Near the end of his speech, Putin announced that Russia would be suspending its participation in the
nuclear disarmament treaty
New START .
[14]
[1]
[12]
Putin's address was simultaneously broadcast on television and in schools and government buildings, as well as displayed on large screens in public places in Russia and the occupied territories of Ukraine.
[3] It was delivered a day after U.S. president
Joe Biden had made
a surprise visit to Kyiv , his first to Ukraine since the start of the invasion.
[15]
[16]
[17]
[b]
On the same day but after Putin's address,
CNN reported that U.S. officials had stated that a test of the
Sarmat , a Russian
intercontinental ballistic missile , appeared to have failed shortly before the address.
[18]
[19] (It was initially reported that the missile test had apparently occurred while Biden was in Ukraine, but a U.S. official later stated that the test had occurred on 18 February 2023 , three days before Putin's speech.
[20]
[18] ) Prior to the test, Russia had informed the U.S. of the intended missile launch, as required by New START.
[20]
[18]
[c] U.S. officials stated that such a test was considered routine, and not an escalation of the conflict.
[20]
[18]
[24] Putin did not mention the missile test during his speech.
[25]
[18]
[21]
Biden also delivered a speech in
Warsaw , Poland, hours after Putin had made his presidential address.
[26]
[11]
[15] The following day, Putin made a brief appearance at
a rally at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow commemorating
Defender of the Fatherland Day .
[27]
[28]
Gallery
See also
Notes
^ The Russian constitution requires the president to address the Federal Assembly annually.
[7]
TASS reported that Putin stated that there was no address in 2022 "because the situation was unfolding very quickly and it was difficult 'to fix the results at a specific point, as well as specific plans for the near future.' "
[8]
^ Russian officials were informed about the trip hours before it began.
[17]
^ Russia had notified the U.S. of the missile test via
deconfliction lines .
[19]
[21]
[22] The U.S. also used deconfliction lines to notify Russia of Biden's visit to Kyiv.
[18]
[23]
[17]
References
^
a
b
c
"Послание Владимира Путина Федеральному собранию" . Коммерсантъ (in Russian). 21 February 2023. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^ Thomas, Tobi; Belam, Martin; Lock, Samantha (21 February 2023).
"Putin thought enemies would 'roll over' but he was wrong, says Joe Biden in major speech in Poland – as it happened" . the Guardian . Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
cite news }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^
a
b
c
d
e
f Times, The Moscow (22 February 2023).
"In Photos: How Putin's Address Really Was One to the Entire Nation - The Moscow Times" . The Moscow Times . Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^
"Послание Президента Федеральному Собранию" . Президент России . 21 February 2023. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^
"Ukraine: Why do world leaders take the night train to Kyiv? – DW – 06/16/2022" . dw.com . Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^
a
b
c
"Putin blames war on West, suspends nuclear disarmament pact – DW – 02/21/2023" . dw.com . Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^
a
b
"Putin planning Federal Assembly address for February 21, followed by 'large-scale concert-rally' at Luzhniki Stadium on February 22 — Meduza" . Meduza . Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^
"Putin to deliver State of the Nation Address to Federal Assembly on Feb 21 — Kremlin" . TASS . Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^
a
b
"Putin promotes Russian escalation in annual speech" . BBC News. 21 February 2023. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
cite news }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^
a
b
c
d
e Thomas, Tobi; Belam, Martin; Lock, Samantha (21 February 2023).
"Putin thought enemies would 'roll over' but he was wrong, says Joe Biden in major speech in Poland – as it happened" . the Guardian . Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
cite news }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
link )
^
a
b
"Putin says Russia will stop participating in its last nuclear treaty with the U.S." NPR . 21 February 2023. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
link )
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
"Presidential Address to Federal Assembly" . President of Russia (in Russian). 21 February 2023. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^ Sajjad, Shyema.
"Ukraine updates: West not plotting to attack Russia, Biden says | Russia-Ukraine war News | Al Jazeera" . aljazeera.com . Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^ Borger, Julian (21 February 2023).
"Joe Biden says Russian forces in disarray after year of war in Ukraine" . the Guardian . Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
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: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^
a
b Troianovski, Anton; Hopkins, Valerie; Bengali, Shashank; Sanger, David E. (21 February 2023).
" 'Our Support Will Not Waver,' Biden Says After Putin Signals Sharper Break" .
The New York Times . Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
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: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^ Liptak, Kevin (20 February 2023).
"Biden makes surprise visit to Ukraine for first time since full-scale war began | CNN Politics" . CNN . Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^
a
b
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"How Biden's surprise trip to Kyiv was kept secret - but not from Russia" . Reuters . 20 February 2023. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
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: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^
a
b
c
d
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f Liebermann, Oren; Bertrand, Natasha (21 February 2023).
"US believes Russia had failed intercontinental ballistic missile test around when Biden was in Ukraine | CNN Politics" . CNN . Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^
a
b Altman, Howard (21 February 2023).
"Ukraine Situation Report: Russian ICBM Test Failed During Biden's Visit To Kyiv" . The Drive . Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^
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b
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"Russian test launch of "Satan II" missile failed, U.S. says, as Putin suspends role in nuclear treaty" . cbsnews.com . 22 February 2023. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023 . {{
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: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^
a
b
"Putin 'launched intercontinental ballistic missile' during Biden visit to Ukraine" . The Independent . 22 February 2023. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^ Times, The Moscow (22 February 2023).
"Russia Tested Nuclear Capable Missile During Biden's Ukraine Trip – CNN - The Moscow Times" . The Moscow Times . Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^
"U.S. alerted Russia to Biden's Ukraine visit for "deconfliction purposes," White House says" . cbsnews.com . 20 February 2023. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^
"Russia 'carried out test on Satan II ballistic missile' while Joe Biden was in Ukraine - but it failed" . LBC . 22 February 2023. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^
"Putin's hope for Sarmat missile launch from Plesetsk failed" . The Independent Barents Observer . Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^ Thomas, Tobi; Belam, Martin; Lock, Samantha (21 February 2023).
"Putin thought enemies would 'roll over' but he was wrong, says Joe Biden in major speech in Poland – as it happened" . the Guardian . Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
cite news }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^
"Russia fighting for its 'historical lands': Putin" . France 24 . 22 February 2023. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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^ Times, The Moscow (22 February 2023).
"Putin Says Russia Fighting for 'Historical Lands' at Pro-War Rally - The Moscow Times" . The Moscow Times . Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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External links
Overview
General
Prelude Background Foreign relations
Impact
Effects Human rights Terms and phrases Popular culture