In his New Year address to the nation, Russian President Vladimir Putin reverted to earlier form on Sunday and made a speech that avoided any mention of current events, and the war in Ukraine in particular.
Speaking to the Russian people in a speech pre-recorded outside in the Kremlin, Putin said that the main force uniting the Russian people was “the fate of the Fatherland”. He paid special tribute to those “at the forefront of the fight for truth and justice” serving in uniform: “You are our heroes. Our hearts are with you. We are proud of you and admire your courage.”
Addressing the Kremlin’s ongoing anxiety about Russia’s rapidly shrinking population, Putin reminded Russians that 2024 was to be “the year of the family” in an attempt to bolster the country’s sluggish child birth rate.