Russian President Vladimir Putin was sworn into his fifth term as Russia’s leader on Tuesday, and while celebrated by the country’s political elite, the ceremony was boycotted by the United States, the United Kingdom, and most European envoys.
Putin’s new term will last until 2030, and if served in full, he will have been in power in Russia for 30 years. Putin spoke about achieving the country’s national interests, which included the now two-year war against Ukraine that has left tens of thousands of Russians and Ukrainians dead.
“You, citizens of Russia, have confirmed the correctness of the country’s course,” Putin said during a speech in St. Andrew Hall in the Grand Kremlin Palace. “This is of great importance right now, when we are facing serious challenges. I see in this a deep understanding of our common historical goals, a determination to steadfastly defend our choice, our values, freedom, and Russia’s national interests.”
While not much will change in Russia, Putin may be forced to raise taxes to even out the Western sanctions and the costs of the war. Putin has reached out to other regimes, including China, Iran, and North Korea, for support.
U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy was out of the country on “prescheduled, personal travel” and didn’t attend the ceremony.
However, Germany pulled its ambassador back for a week of consultations due to an alleged Russian cyberattack against the country’s ruling Social Democratic Party. European Union diplomat Josep Borrell had told EU envoys that “the right thing to do is not to attend this inauguration,” considering that Putin was wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes.
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Despite the high-profile absences, envoys from France, Hungary, Slovakia, Greece, Malta, and Cyprus attended the inauguration.
Putin said that Russia “does not refuse dialogue with Western states.” “The choice is theirs: Do they intend to continue trying to contain Russia, continue the policy of aggression,” he said.