Russian President Vladimir Putin (SPUTNIK / Sergei GUNEYEV) during the annual conference of the Ministry of Defense in Moscow on December 21, 2021
Vladimir Putin will be questioned at length on Thursday by the Russian and international media about the political-military crisis that will shake Europe’s security balance as a result of the Cold War.
During this annual marathon press conference, he will be expected to discuss the year-long crackdown on Russian opposition, the epidemic in the country and the economic crisis.
As the 30th anniversary of the dissolution of the Soviet Union approaches, according to the Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the twentieth century” has significantly sharpened its tone to its Western rivals and Ukrainian neighbors in recent weeks. Fear point for armed conflict.
Journalists wait for the start of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annual press conference on December 23, 2021 in Moscow (AFP / Natalia KOLESNIKOVA).
If his demands are not accepted by the White House and NATO, observers and diplomats expect details of the “military and technical measures” he has adopted.
Its demands, which have implications for European defense architecture, are considered “unacceptable” by many Western voices.
Vladimir Putin wants to extend the Atlantic alliance and block all Western military operations near Russia without providing NATO and Washington’s military support to Ukraine.
Washington and Moscow are counting down the talks in January.
The Russian president, who has been in power for 22 years, is suspected of preparing for an invasion of Ukraine, a formerly pro-Western former Soviet republic, from a conflicting relationship with a good one.
Map of Ukraine showing separatist-controlled areas and Crimea annexed by Russia (AFP /)
According to Washington, tens of thousands of more armed soldiers are stationed near the Russian-Ukrainian border and in the peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed in 2014. Add to the equation the pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. Nearly eight years of war.
The Kremlin denies all war, instead accusing the Americans and their allies of threatening Kiev and its Black Sea forces with their political-military support.
– Repression, Govt, Inflation –
In addition to international tensions, Mr. Putin is expected on Thursday on anti-Russian and repression of civil society, which will intensify significantly in 2021.
The year began with the arrest of his main rival, Alexei Navalny, who escaped the poison he claimed to have ordered from the Kremlin. His entire movement was later banned for “extremism”.
And ends with two trials, including one on Thursday, 2021, which will lead to the dissolution of the Memorial NGO, the symbol of democratization that followed the end of the Soviet Union, and investigate Soviet crimes and human rights abuses.People in Russia.
Throughout the year, the media, NGOs, journalists, lawyers and activists were targeted by various lawsuits. Some are in prison and many have been deported.
During the annual conference of the Ministry of Defense in Moscow (SPUTNIK / Mikhail Tereshchenko), Russian President Vladimir Putin and Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Kerisamov appeared before a giant screen showing a map of Ukraine on December 21, 2021.
Among other embarrassing topics for the Russian power, Mr. Govt. Putin should be asked.
Low vaccine coverage was triggered by public distrust and the lack of strong health controls resulted in overpopulation. More than 520,000 people have died of Govt disease in two years, according to official figures from the Rossstad Agency.
But these figures can be underestimated, the natural decline of the population has reached half a million people by 2020 and has already exceeded 595,000 in the first half of 2021. However the population renaissance Mr. Is one of Putin’s top priorities.
Economically, Moscow is demanding strong growth due to minimal health restrictions and rising oil prices.
However he acknowledged that their numbers were not enough to defeat President Rousseff’s goal of raising inflation to 8% after eight years of poor economic conditions. A reality that will tarnish his reputation and lead his party and government.
Moreover, with the approach of the press conference, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that “the president prepares by reading the economic statements.”
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