President Vladimir Putin was sworn in for another six-year term on Tuesday during a Kremlin event, which the United States and other Western nations boycotted. During the ceremony, he expressed a willingness to engage in nuclear discussions with the West.
Since 1999, Putin has held leadership roles as either president or prime minister. His latest term follows the deployment of a large Russian military force into Ukraine over the last two years,, with Russian troops now making significant advancements in the eastern regions after previous setbacks.
At 71, Putin is a predominant figure in Russia’s political scene and continues to face off against Western nations, which he claims are utilizing Ukraine to undermine and dismantle Russia.
Following his oath, Putin addressed Russia’s elite, signaling openness to dialogue with the West, though he insisted that any engagement must occur on mutual terms. He also mentioned the possibility of negotiations concerning strategic nuclear stability.
“We are a united and great people and together we will overcome all obstacles, we will bring to life everything we have planned. Together, we will be victorious,” Putin declared.
In March, Putin secured a decisive election victory in a process where two anti-war candidates were excluded due to technicalities. His most formidable rival, Alexei Navalny, had died unexpectedly in an Arctic penal colony shortly before the election, and many other critics are either imprisoned or in exile.
The United States, questioning the legitimacy of the election, along with Britain, Canada, and most European Union countries, opted out of attending the inauguration. However, France chose to send its ambassador.
Ukraine criticized the inauguration, describing it as an attempt to legitimize Putin’s almost perpetual rule, transforming Russia into an aggressive and dictatorial state.
Putin’s re-election echoes public sentiment
Before the ceremony, Sergei Chemezov, a close associate of Putin, highlighted to Reuters that Putin’s re-election represents continuity and stability for Russia, sentiments supposedly echoed by the general populace.
“President Putin was re-elected and will continue the path, although the West probably doesn’t like it. But they will understand that Putin is stability for Russia rather than some sort of new person who came with new policies—either cooperation or confrontation, even.”
Relations between Russia and Western nations are severely strained, the most since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, a standoff that nearly escalated to nuclear war.
Despite Western support for Ukraine, including artillery and tanks, NATO forces have not directly engaged in the conflict, a move that both Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden agree could trigger a global conflict.
Amid increasing nuclear threats, Russia announced plans to simulate tactical nuclear weapons deployment in military drills, following perceived threats from France, Britain, and the United States.
“We hope that this event will cool down the ‘hotheads’ in Western capitals,” stated the Russian Foreign Ministry.
As Putin begins his new term, one of his critical decisions will be whether to renew or revise the New START treaty, which caps Russian and U.S. nuclear warheads and is set to expire in 2026.
The extent of Russia’s military actions in Ukraine may also hinge on the outcomes of the upcoming U.S. presidential election between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
Following constitutional procedure, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s government resigned with the commencement of Putin’s new term, with expectations that the new cabinet would include many familiar figures.