Vladimir Putin has slammed the West for ‘picking on Russia for no reason’ and warned against any country crossing his ‘red lines’ as he gave his annual state-of-the-union address on Wednesday.
The president warned Moscow will always respond to provocation as he complained of continued unfounded and unfriendly acts against Russia during the address to lawmakers amid escalating military action on the border with Ukraine.
He said: ‘I hope that no one will think of crossing a red line with Russia. And we will decide ourselves where it will be.
‘Russia’s response will be symmetrical, fast and tough. The organizers of any provocations threatening our core security interests will regret their actions more than they’ve regretted anything in a long time.
‘Russia has its own interests, of course, which we are defending and will defend within the framework of international law.
‘And if others refuse to understand this obvious thing, do not want to engage in dialogue, choose an egotistical and arrogant tone, Russia will always find a way to defend its positions.’
He added: ‘In some countries, they have started an obscene custom of blaming Russia for anything. It’s some kind of sport – a new kind of sport.
‘We want good relations…and really don’t want to burn bridges.
‘But if someone mistakes our good intentions for indifference or weakness and intends to burn down or even blow up these bridges, they should know that Russia’s response will be asymmetrical, swift and harsh.’
Russian President Vladimir Putin gives his annual state of the nation address in Manezh, Moscow
The speech comes at a time of heightened tensions at home and abroad as 120,000 of his troops are stationed on the border with Ukraine and protests in 100 cities are being carried out in support of Alexei Navalny to coincide with the address.
The jailed Kremlin critic, who is in ‘poor health’ in prison hospital, was not mentioned in Putin’s speech, as authorities closed off city centres across the country to disrupt demonstrations.
Hundreds of protesters chanted ‘Russia without Putin’ as they marched through the country’s Pacific capital Vladivostok as dozens were arrested throughout Russia, including Navalny’s aides.
Putin’s ‘red line’ threats come a day after more than 20 Russian warships staged naval exercises in the Black Sea as satellite images revealed a build up of army helicopters and fighter jets in Crimea.
The US has condemned Russia’s plans to blockade the Crimea as ‘yet another unprovoked escalation’ but Russia insisted that it has the right to restrict foreign naval ships’ movement in the region, rejecting both the US and Ukraine’s complaints.
The president said his military is constantly being developed as he reminded lawmakers of Russia’s formidable weaponry
Tensions have soared between Moscow and the West over Russia massing troops on Ukraine’s northern and eastern borders as well as on the Crimean peninsula it annexed in 2014.
The Russian defence ministry said in a statement that more than 20 Russian warships participated in joint exercises with air force fighter jets on Tuesday.
The ships included frigates, missile ships and anti-submarine vessels, and were accompanied by squadrons of fighter jets flying ‘at extremely low altitudes in difficult weather conditions.’
The defence ministry also said that more than 50 fighter jets were moved to Crimea, and satellite images taken over two Crimea airbases – Kirovskoye Airbase and Saki Airbase – appeared to confirm this.
They showed a large force of Russian military helicopters and fighter jets sitting on the runways on April 16, April 14 and earlier at Russian airbase Morozovsk last month.
Saki Airbase, Crimea: At least 26 Russian fighter jets can be seen sitting on the tarmac. Russia’s defence ministry has said that more than 50 fighter jets were moved to Crimea amid escalating tensions in the region
Russia, which has deployed more than 120,000 troops along the Ukrainian border, has begun massive naval exercises in the Black Sea involving more than 20 vessels, including landing craft
Kirovskoye Airbase, Crimea: At least 13 Russian military helicopters could be seen at Kirovskoye Airbase, Crimea April 14, 2021. Russia’s escalation in military exercises come as tensions have soared between Moscow and the West over Russia massing troops on Ukraine’s northern and eastern borders as well as on the Crimean peninsula it annexed in 2014
Kirovskoye Airbase, Crimea: View of Kirovskoye Airbase with Russian military equipment, in Crimea April 14, 2021
Morozovsk airbase, Russia: Russian Sukhoi Su-34 military aircraft are pictured at Morozovsk Airbase, Russia March 27, 2021
In pictures from the Saki Airbase on April 16, at least 26 fighter jets can be seen sitting on the runway. In the image taken from above Kirovskoye Airbase on April 14, 13 military helicopters are shown on the tarmac. In another view of Kirovskoye Airbase, more fighter jets and helicopters are shown in position.
An earlier satellite image taken of Morozovsk airbase in Russia on March 27 showed a row of 15 fighter jets lined up. It is unclear if they are the same fighter jets that were later pictured at Saki Airbase on Friday.
Video on Tuesday showed frigate Admiral Essen launching cruise missiles after Putin defied Western demands to ease tensions in Ukraine.
The warships were joined by 50 Su-25SM3 fighter jets flying low across the water, which Russia claimed was routine defensive drilling, despite the presence of landing craft used for offensive amphibious action.
A military spokesman said ‘three squadrons of the Southern Military District’s attack aircraft held drills to attain positions for an attack.’
Satellite images of an area next to Kachyk Lake in Crimea have revealed a new Russian military camp (right) and sub-camp (left) which have been constructed between March 15 and April 13 amid a wider troop build-up on the Ukraine border
Moscow has rejected Ukraine and Western concerns, arguing that it’s free to deploy its forces and charging that they don’t threaten anyone. Pictured: Satellite view of the Pogorovo military training area near Voronezh, Russia on April 10
Tensions have risen in recent weeks with increasing violations of a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine and a massive Russian troop buildup along the Ukrainian border. Pictured: Satellite image showing tanks and equipment at Pogorovo training area near Voronezh, Russia on April 10
They practised using missiles against an enemy and dodging strikes from naval air defence systems, he said.
In a separate statement, the Russian defence ministry said that the Russian Black Sea Fleet had conducted manoeuvres, which involved an anti-sabotage detachment and included ‘underwater combat training missions’.
The exercises come after Russian news agencies citing the defence ministry reported last week that Moscow intends to close parts of the Black Sea to foreign military and official ships for six months.
Such a move could affect access to Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov, which is connected to the Black Sea through the Kerch Strait on Crimea’s eastern tip.
The US State Department on Monday described the plan as an ‘unprovoked escalation in Moscow’s ongoing campaign to undermine and destabilize Ukraine’.
A new video shows Russian frigate Admiral Essen launching cruise missiles in the Black Sea as Vladimir Putin defies Western demands to ease tensions with Ukraine
The European Union called it a ‘highly worrying development,’ while NATO also expressed ‘concern’ and called on Russia to guarantee ‘free access’ to Ukrainian ports.
Also in his address, Putin accused the West of ignoring claims that Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko’s security services had thwarted an alleged US plot to assassinate him, and were instead focusing on Ukraine.
He said: ‘Everyone pretends that nothing is happening at all.
‘What would have happened if the coup d’etat attempt had been actually undertaken? How many people would have suffered?’
Lukashenko said on Saturday that Russian authorities had helped derail a plot to overthrow the Belarusian government and arrested two Belarusian nationals in Moscow.
He claimed senior US politicians were involved in the alleged plot, saying no one but top leadership ‘can assign the task of eliminating a president’, and the allegations were broadcast on Russian state TV.
The Admiral Essen launched cruise missiles as part of exercises which saw some 50 warplanes were involved in the major exercises, which Russia portrayed as routine training
A Ukrainian solider inside a machine gun turret of a light vehicle near the Ukrainian Azov Sea port of Mariupol on Monday. It is feared the Russian blockade could prevent access to Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov, which is connected to the Black Sea through the Kerch Strait, on the eastern tip of the Crimean peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014
The claims were rubbished by opposition leaders in Belarus who said: ‘Information released by state institutions and announced by Lukashenko on April 17 has all hallmarks of a provocation by the security services of Russia and Belarus.
‘It is necessary to refrain from hasty conclusions and decisions which can damage Belarus’s national interests, sovereignty and independence.’
Earlier in his speech delivered to lawmakers, he spoke about issues at home as he aimed for herd immunity from Covid by autumn.
The speech will be followed by nationwide protests in 100 cities in support of the hunger striking opposition leader who is ‘very weak’ and being denied treatment in prison hospital, his lawyers claim.
The president said in his opening remarks on Wednesday: ‘I’m appealing to all citizens of Russia: get vaccinated. There’s no other way to defeat the pandemic.
‘Vaccination is now of paramount importance… to allow herd immunity to develop in the fall.’
He added that the three vaccines produced in Russia are a ‘direct embodiment of our country’s growing scientific and technological potential’.
Manezhnaya Square is blocked by law enforcement officers ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s annual address to the Federal Assembly
Putin also said that he wants life expectancy to increase to 78 by 2030 as he thanked the various frontline workers who helped during the pandemic.
The president proposed new incentives to help the economy overcome the blow from the pandemic and new social payments to the population.
Later, Putin vowed that Russia, one of the world’s oil and gas producing giants, would do its part to fight climate change and develop carbon recycling.
‘We must respond to the challenges of climate change, create a carbon recycling industry,’ Putin said in his address.
His comments, some of his strongest on climate change which also vowed to slash greenhouse gas emissions to the same level as the EU, come a week before a virtual climate summit hosted by Joe Biden.
Alexei Navalny’s doctors were again denied access to the jailed Kremlin critic on Tuesday despite growing concern over the hunger-striking Russian opposition figure’s failing health
Just hours before his speech, Russian police swept in on supporters of Navalny and detained his aides and stormed their offices.
Two close aides were detained by police in Moscow while monitors reported police raids on Navalny’s offices in Saint Petersburg and arrests of his supporters across the country.
At last year’s state of the nation address, Putin announced his plans to overhaul the constitution, allowing him to effectively rule until 2036.
This year’s speech comes as the president faces sharp criticism at home and abroad.
In recent weeks, sanctions and diplomatic expulsions between Moscow and the US have worsened relations between Putin and the new Joe Biden administration.
The new president recently asserted that his Russian counterpart was a ‘killer’ and also accused the Kremlin of interfering in the 2020 election and launching cyber attacks on US government agencies.