This “upbeat” speech came exactly 25 years after the Russian president took over from his predecessor Boris Yeltsin.
President Vladimir Putin said in his New Year’s address that Russia intends to move forward with confidence in 2025 and that Russians “should be proud” of what the country has achieved during his quarter-century in power. ” he said.
The three-and-a-half-minute seasonal message was delivered on Tuesday, exactly 25 years since Putin took over from his predecessor Boris Yeltsin, who abruptly resigned at the end of 1999.
“And now that we’re in the new year, we’re thinking about the future. We’re confident that everything will be fine and we just have to move forward. We are convinced that this is and always will be Russia’s destiny and the well-being of its people,” Putin said.
President Putin, 72, paid tribute to Russian soldiers who fought in the Ukraine war, describing them as heroes. “We are proud of your courage and bravery. We believe in you,” he said.
“In honor of you (Russian soldiers), in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the great victory and in memory of our ancestors who always fought for the Motherland, we have declared 2025 the Year of the Defenders of Russia. . The homeland is Russia, ”he added.
The speech came at a pivotal moment in the nearly three-year conflict, with Russia making steady advances on the battlefield and US President-elect Donald Trump pledging a swift ceasefire once he takes office.
Al Jazeera’s Dorsa Jabari, reporting from Moscow, said the Russian president avoided mentioning the course of the war in his speech.
“Despite President Putin’s upbeat message, the mood here remains dark. Many here believe that the new year will bring an end to the war and the conflict in Ukraine, and for a nation facing unprecedented economic challenges. “We’re hoping for better economic forecasts,” she said.
President Putin said that in the first quarter of the 21st century Russia strengthened its unity, achieved important goals and overcame challenges.
“There is still much to be decided, but we can rightly be proud of what has already been achieved. This is our common tradition and a reliable basis for further development. “A strong country has been able to meet the most difficult challenges.”
The New Year’s Eve televised address continues a tradition started by Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and has become a holiday staple in Russia, watched by millions of households.
Broadcast on state television just before midnight in each of Russia’s 11 time zones, including Kamchatka and Chukotka in the Far East, it is usually a concise summary of the past year’s events and hopes for the coming year.
