Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual speech to parliament on Thursday, less than three weeks before an election that will give him a new six-year term in the Kremlin. Putin, who has been in power as president or prime minister for 25 years, has used televised appearances to send signals to Russians and other countries.

Vladimir Putin makes a speechPhoto: Vadym Savitsky / Sputnik / Profimedia

Key statements from Vladimir Putin’s LIVETEXT speech on HotNews.ro:

The head of the Kremlin was left waiting, the performance did not start at 11:00 a.m. as planned

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In addition to the deputies of the State Duma and the Federation Council (no two chambers of the parliament), regional leaders, members of the government, Central Committee, judges, representatives of major denominations, state-owned companies, and journalists usually participate in the speech.

Kremlin spokesman Dmytro Peskov said on Wednesday that representatives of some foreign media will also broadcast from the spot. Usually there are about 1,000 visitors. This time, as in 2023, participants of the “special forces operation” from Ukraine were also invited to the message.

In order to get to the event, participants had to pass a PCR test for coronavirus.

On Thursday, Vladimir Putin’s speech before the Federal Assembly will begin at noon Moscow time in Gostiny dvor. The speech of the head of state in this format will be the 29th in the modern history of Russia and the 19th for Putin, reports TASS.

Putin’s address to the Federal Assembly will be broadcast free of charge in cinemas in 20 Russian cities. In addition, the performance will be broadcast live on federal television channels, and the broadcast will be organized on street screens in major cities.

The head of state spent the previous days preparing for the speech. According to the president’s spokesman Dmytro Peskov, Putin personally worked on the text, had “dozens of telephone and personal contacts” – with ministers, vice prime ministers, heads of departments.

In 2022, when the invasion of Ukraine began, Putin stopped giving speeches. Then the president himself explained that the dynamic development of the situation does not allow to record the results and plans for the future.