Putin’s Fifth Term Victory
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed an unprecedented fifth term in office on Sunday (March 17) as the incumbent leader claimed about 88 per cent of total votes polled. Addressing his supporters at his campaign office in Moscow, Putin reacted to French President Emmanuel Macron’s comment that he will push for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine during Paris Olympics later this summer.
Putin’s Thankful Address
Putin indicated that he was ready for talks but added that he would need to take Russia’s interests on the frontline into account. “I want to thank all of you and all citizens of the country for your support and this trust,” Putin said while addressing the Russian voters.
Putin’s Stance on Democracy
“No matter who or how much they want to intimidate us, no matter who or how much they want to suppress us, our will, our consciousness – no one has ever succeeded in anything like this in history. It has not worked now and will not work in the future. Never,” Putin emphasized. Responding to the US’ claims that the elections in Russia are not free and fair, Putin said: “We are behaving with more restraint than their opponents in other countries, but this is just a catastrophe, not a democracy – that’s what it is,” Putin said.
Putin’s Views on Conflict with NATO
Putin specifically praised the Russian military for their service to protect the “so-called new, but in fact historic territories”, a reference to the Donbas region now administered by Russia. Putin claimed he was securing the border from recent raids by pro-Ukrainian military units and said that his main tasks as president would be “strengthening defence capacity and the military”. Asked about the potential for a direct conflict with NATO, he said: “I think that everything is possible in the modern world … everyone understands that this would be one step from a full-scale third world war. I don’t think that anyone is interested in that.”
