Russian President Vladimir Putin said the past five years have been a “difficult and extremely critical” period for Russia, describing it as one of the most decisive stages in the country’s history.
Speaking during a meeting at the Kremlin with lawmakers from the Eighth State Duma, the lower house of Russia’s parliament, Putin said their term coincided with major challenges for the state.
“The past five years — the period of your mandate as deputies — have been difficult and extremely critical for our country. Without exaggeration, this is one of the decisive stages in the history of our homeland. The fate and future of our people are at stake,” Putin said, according to the Associated Press.
The Russian president also claimed that the Russian people “will never be broken,” while accusing Western countries of attempting to weaken and destabilize Russia over what Moscow calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Speaking at the Kremlin, Putin said Russia remains ready to defend its sovereignty and claimed that Western nations have intensified pressure against Moscow since 2022.
He described the current global situation as a turning point, saying the world is entering a new phase of international relations.
“This is a time when, amid fierce competition, the contours of a new world order are taking shape,” Putin said.
