On Thursday, February 29, Vladimir Putin delivered his traditional address to the Federal Assembly.

At the beginning of the address, which lasted a record two hours and six minutes, the head of state stated that today Russia defends its sovereignty and security, and also protects the lives of compatriots in Donbass and Novorossiya.

“The decisive role in this righteous struggle belongs to our citizens, our unity, devotion to our native country, responsibility for its fate,” Putin said.

According to him, these qualities of Russians clearly manifested themselves at the very beginning of the special military operation, when the absolute majority of Russian citizens supported it.

And despite all the trials, they are adamant in this choice, constantly confirming it with the desire to do as much as possible for the country, the president emphasized.

At the same time, the collective West, Putin continued, demonstrated its “colonial habits” and its habit of fomenting conflicts around the world.

According to the president, the West is trying to hinder Russia's further development.

“Instead of Russia, they need a dependent, fading, dying space where they can do whatever they want.

In essence, they would like to do to Russia the same thing that they did in many other regions of the world, including Ukraine: to bring discord into our home, to weaken us from within,” the head of state said.

  • Putin on Western intentions towards Russia

However, the West was faced with the firm position and determination of the multinational Russian people, the president emphasized.

“All of us, citizens of Russia, will together defend our freedom, the right to a peaceful and dignified life, determine our own path ourselves and only ourselves, protect the connection between generations, and therefore the continuity of historical development, solve the problems that face the country, based on our worldview, our traditions, beliefs that we will pass on to our children,” Putin said.

“We did not start the war in Donbass, but, as I have said more than once, we will do everything to end it, eradicate Nazism, solve all the tasks of the special military operation, protect the sovereignty and safety of our citizens,” the president emphasized.

In this regard, the President noted that the country's strategic nuclear forces are in a state of full readiness for guaranteed use.

Along with this, Putin mentioned the Kinzhal and Zircon hypersonic systems, Avangard intercontinental-range hypersonic units and Peresvet laser systems, and also announced that tests of the Burevestnik unlimited-range cruise missile and the Poseidon unmanned underwater vehicle are being completed "

“The first serial heavy ballistic missiles “Sarmat” were also delivered to the troops.

We will soon demonstrate them in the areas where they are deployed on combat duty,” the president added.

At the same time, Moscow is ready for dialogue with the United States on issues of strategic stability, Putin said, noting the peculiarities of Washington’s position towards Moscow.

“In this case, we are dealing with a state whose ruling circles are taking open hostile actions against us.

So what?

Are they seriously going to discuss issues of strategic stability with us, while at the same time trying to inflict, as they themselves say, a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield?”

- the president asked himself.

Recalling recent accusations against Russia regarding the deployment of nuclear weapons in space, Putin said that these stuffings are intended to draw the Russian side into negotiations on terms that are beneficial only to the United States.

At the same time, Putin noted, the United States is blocking the draft treaty on preventing the placement of weapons in outer space, prepared by the Russian side back in 2008.

“Therefore, we have every reason to believe that the words of today’s American authorities about their alleged interest in negotiations with us on issues of strategic stability are demagoguery,” the head of state said.

"Time of Heroes"

In his speech, the President spoke several times about the participants of the SVO.

According to him, there are resources and opportunities to achieve the goals, but the future of the country truly depends on the work of military personnel at the front.

“From our soldiers, officers, volunteers - all military personnel who are now fighting at the front, from the courage and determination of our comrades who defend the Motherland, rise to the attack, go forward under fire, sacrifice themselves for us, for the sake of the Fatherland.

It is they, our soldiers, who create the absolutely necessary conditions for the future of the country and its development,” Putin said.

  • Putin on the status of SVO participants

Putin noted that it is the participants in the special operation who are the real elite, which should play an increasingly important role in all spheres of Russian life.

“You know that the word “elite” has discredited itself in many ways.

Those who, having no merit to society, consider themselves some kind of caste with special rights and privileges, especially those who in previous years filled their pockets due to all sorts of processes in the economy of the 1990s.

They are definitely not elite.

I repeat, the true, real elite is everyone who serves Russia, workers and warriors, reliable, proven, who have proven their devotion to Russia, worthy people,” the president emphasized.

At the end of the message, the head of state announced the launch of the “Time of Heroes” personnel program for veterans and participants of the Northern Military District on March 1, 2024.

According to the president, special operations veterans, as well as soldiers and officers who are currently fighting in active units, will be able to apply to participate in the first training stream of a special personnel program.

“Studies will begin in the coming months.

The mentors for the first participants of the program will be the heads of the government, the presidential administration, federal ministries, departments, heads of regions and our largest companies.

In the future, we will expand such personnel programs and launch management courses at the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration,” Putin said.

Along with this, veterans and participants in a special military operation will be able to receive higher education and a civilian specialty in the country's leading universities as a priority.

In addition, military personnel who want to continue their military career will receive priority promotion when entering command courses, schools and military academies.

New national projects

As part of his message, Putin announced the launch of five new national projects.

As part of the “Family” project, it is planned to increase the birth rate, the task of the “Youth of Russia” project is to support class teachers in schools in small cities.

The “Personnel” project provides for strengthening the connection between all levels of education with the participation of future employers.

The Data Economy project will provide support to companies that produce equipment for storing and processing data, as well as create software.

The national project “Long and Active Life” is designed to increase the average life expectancy of Russians.

According to the president, by 2030 life expectancy in the Russian Federation should be 78 years, and later exceed 80 years.