Russian President Vladimir Putin presented his view of the country and the world in his annual address to the nation. He didn't have much new to say, according to DW's Ingo Mannteufel, reports GHN based on DW.
People who love Russia and the Russians love tuning in to President Vladimir Putin's annual address to the nation. In melodious words, he knows exactly how to paint a picture of a good, strong, united Russia, where the state allows its citizens free economic expansion, takes care of the poor and the weak, and takes the necessary steps for the country's planned re-industrialization. Putin is completely caught up in the role of the good czar while announcing bureaucratic relief for small entrepreneurs, tax amnesties, low inflation figures, investment in infrastructure, industrial parks and scholarship programs. Once again Putin presented a long list of planned good deeds and legal mandates during his speech on the state of the nation.
In light of the Ukraine crisis and the major differences with the United States and the European Union, the Russian president even found relatively mild words for foreign countries. In his speech, he repeated what has become the authorized position in Russia on Crimea and the Ukraine crisis. However, the speech did not have an openly confrontational tone when it came to the West or Ukraine. To the contrary: Putin stressed that Ukraine has a right to develop independently and that Russia would remain open to cooperation with other countries - in particular in the economic sector. Again, the good czar.