©Getty Images/MARK GARLICK; SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Claims that Russia is planning to deploy nuclear weapons in space are merely an attempt by Washington to push Moscow into negotiations on US terms, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
Delivering his annual address to the Federal Assembly, Russia’s national legislature, Putin insisted that statements by American officials about their supposed willingness to reach an agreement with Moscow on nuclear weapons controls are nothing but “demagogy” ahead of the US presidential election.
Putin accused the US of “hypocrisy” over recent “unfounded accusations” that Russia plans to deploy strategic weapons in space, and insisted that such falsehoods are nothing but an attempt by Washington to drag Moscow into negotiations that are exclusively beneficial to the US.
The president noted that Russia offered the US a draft treaty on preventing the deployment of nuclear weapons in space back in 2008, but pointed out that Washington has blocked the proposal ever since.
“They want to show their citizens that they still rule the world. The US will only hold talks with Russia on issues where it is beneficial for America to find an agreement. On issues that are not profitable for them, they will say there is ‘nothing to discuss’ … and will try to inflict a defeat on [Moscow],” Putin stated.
The president stressed that this approach is unacceptable, and that any discussions about global security and stability can only be held if Russia’s national interests and security are taken into account.
“Russia is ready for dialogue with the US on issues of strategic stability. But… we are dealing with a country whose leaders are openly taking hostile actions against us,” Putin said. He questioned how Washington can expect to discuss strategic stability with Moscow while simultaneously trying to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia in the Ukraine conflict.
Citing a press release from the US House of Representatives, several American media outlets claimed earlier this month that Russia may have undisclosed anti-satellite capabilities, and that it supposedly plans to deploy nuclear weapons into space.
Moscow has vehemently denied the claims. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has suggested that the rumors were spread in the US media with the goal of pushing Republicans in Congress to approve President Joe Biden’s $60 billion military aid bill for Ukraine.
Putin delivers key address to Russian lawmakers: LIVE UPDATES
President Vladimir Putin is delivering his annual message to the Federal Assembly, Russia’s national legislature. The address at Gostiny Dvor in central Moscow is taking place just over two weeks ahead of the presidential vote in Russia, in which Putin is running for reelection.
The Kremlin typically doesn’t announce the exact issues which the speech is going to touch upon. Putin said earlier that “given the domestic political calendar,” it’ll be dedicated to setting tasks for the country for the next six years.
The head of state personally worked on the address, conducting dozens of meetings and phone calls with ministers and other officials, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said earlier. “The text that appears in the end is a presidential text,” he stressed.
Approximately a thousand people have been invited to hear Putin’s message in person, including lawmakers from the State Duma and the Federation Council, government ministers, governors, religious leaders, foreign diplomats and journalists. Servicemen who have taken part in the fighting against the Ukrainian forces, are also among the guests, as in the previous year.
BRICS overtaking G7 in economic might – Putin
The BRICS states are overtaking the G7 in terms of share in global GDP in PPP terms, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday while addressing the Federal Assembly.
The share of BRICS will increase to 36.6% by 2028, while that of the G7 will decrease to 27.8%, according to estimates provided by the president.
“But ten years ago, the situation was different,” Putin said, noting that in 2022 the BRICS countries surpassed the G7 in terms of GDP in PPP terms (31.5% versus 30.3%), whereas back in 1992 the BRICS share was only around 16.5%.
PPP is a metric popular with many economists that compares economic productivity and standards of living between countries by adjusting for the differences in the cost of goods and services.
The BRICS group of emerging economies, which previously comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, underwent a major expansion after Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates joined in January of this year. Saudi Arabia has also been invited and is set to become a member. Numerous other states have expressed interest in joining, while some have already formally submitted applications.
According to data from the IMF, the share of the G7 (comprising Canada, France, Japan, Italy, the US, UK, and EU) in global GDP in terms of PPP has been on a steady decline over the past several years, dropping from 50.42% in 1982 to 30.39% in 2022. The Washington-based institution expects the figure to edge lower to 29.44% this year.
West wants to destroy Russia – Putin
The West intends to do to Russia what it did to Ukraine and many other nations – turn it into a dying, failed state, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed in a keynote speech on Thursday.
”The West, which has colonial habits and is used to igniting national conflicts all over the world, has intentions that go beyond stalling our development,” the Russian leader told the Federal Assembly, a gathering of leading Russian officials and public figures.
”In place of Russia, they want a dependent, withering, dying space, where they can do whatever they want,” he added.
The Russian people and its national unity in the face of foreign threats is what protects the nation, according to Putin. Meanwhile, the government has the job of protecting institutions at the foundation of national sovereignty.
”We will not allow anyone to interfere in our domestic affairs,” the president vowed.
Moscow has accused the US and its allies of waging a proxy war on Russia, in which the Ukraine conflict is but one element. Western elites, according to the Russian leadership, cannot accept that a new multipolar world is emerging, in which multiple sovereign power centers will decide the fate of humanity. The West is seeking to contain rising powers, including Russia, by all means at its disposal, from economic restrictions to outright use of military force, according to the Kremlin.
Putin has previously argued that his country was left with “no other choice” but to take action against Ukraine as a result of Kiev’s persecution and violence against ethnic Russian citizens. Meanwhile, NATO members have obstructed Moscow’s calls to resolve their differences over European security. The US-led military bloc has continued to expand towards Russian borders, ignoring its objections, Putin said.
Putin says West wanted to weaken Russia like Ukraine, but failed
Politicians in the West sought to weaken Russia from within, just like they did in Ukraine, but they failed, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a state-of-the-nation address.
"They essentially would like to do to Russia exactly what they did to many other regions of the world, including Ukraine: bring discord to our home and weaken us from within. But they miscalculated," the president said. "It is absolutely obvious today."
The West "faced the firm position and determination of our multinational people. Our soldiers and officers, Christians and Muslims, Buddhists and followers of Judaism, representatives of different ethnicities, cultures and regions have proved in practice, better than through a thousand words, that the centuries-old cohesion and unity of the people of Russia is an immense, all-conquering force. Standing together, shoulder to shoulder, they are fighting for their common, shared Motherland," Putin went on to say.
Russian Industrial development fund’s capital to be increased by $3.3 bln — Putin
The capital of Russia’s Industrial development fund will be increased by a total of 300 bln rubles ($3.3 bln), with its activities targeted on supporting high-tech projects, President Vladimir Putin said in his State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly (parliament).
"The Industrial development fund will be increased by 300 bln rubles. Its capital will be almost doubled and it will be targeted on supporting high-tech projects," he said.
Moreover, the president requested speeding up the launch of special treatment of IPO for Russia’s high-tech companies in prior sectors of the economy.
"It is necessary to launch special treatment of initial public offerings of shares of companies operating in prior, high-tech areas. I draw the attention of colleagues in the Finance Ministry and the Central Bank that it is necessary to speed up the launch of this mechanism, including compensation of costs on placement of securities," he said, adding that "Russia’s stock market should intensify its role as a source of investment.".
Russia non-resource and non-energy exports to grow by two thirds over six years — Putin
The volume of non-resource and non-energy exports Russia must grow by two thirds over the next six years, President Vladimir Putin said in the State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly.
The head of state also set the task of increasing the share of domestic high technology goods and services by 1.5 times in the Russian market by 2030.
"I suggest setting the task here: the share of domestic high technology goods and services in the domestic market should grow by one and a half times over the coming six years, and the volume of non-resource and non-energy exports - by at least two thirds."
Russian non-resource and non-energy exports plummeted by 23% year on year to $146.3 bln in 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said earlier.
The West deliberately destroys the norms of morality and the institution of the family, while Russia chooses life and traditional values, Putin emphasizes pic.twitter.com/8rUQbdIB9g
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) February 29, 2024
No comments:
Post a Comment