Associated Press — President Vladimir Putin began his fifth term with a glittering inauguration of the Kremlin on Tuesday, after annihilating his political opponents and starting a devastating war in Ukraine, concentrating all power in his hands. He began another six years as Russia’s leader.
In a ceremony held in the gilded Kremlin palace, President Putin laid his hands on Russia’s constitution and vowed to uphold it, watched by a select group of dignitaries.
“We are a great, united people, and together we will overcome all obstacles, realize all our plans, and together we will win,” Putin said after taking the oath of office.
Since succeeding Boris Yeltsin in the waning years of 1999, Putin has transformed Russia from a country emerging from economic collapse to a pariah state that threatens global security. Following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which became Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II, Russia has been under severe sanctions from Western countries and has sought support from other regimes such as China, Iran, and North Korea. There is.
A photo of this pool distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik shows Russia’s next president, Vladimir Putin, walking in front of his inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Alexei Mayshev) /POOL/AFP) (Photo by: Alexei Maishev/POOL) POOL/AFP (via Getty Images)
American actor Steven Seagal arrives at the inauguration of Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 7, 2024 (Photo by Alexander NEMENOV/POOL/AFP) (Photo by ALEXANDER NEMENOV/POOL/ (AFP via Getty Images)
This photo of the pool, distributed by Russia’s state agency Sputnik, shows members of the honor guard holding up the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the president’s signature ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 7, 2024. (Photo by: ALEXANDER KAZAKOV/POOL/AFP) (Photo by: ALEXANDER KAZAKOV/POOL/AFP, Getty Images)
Already in office for nearly a quarter of a century and the longest-serving Kremlin leader since Joseph Stalin, Putin’s new term expires in 2030, when he is constitutionally eligible to run again.
In an elaborately choreographed performance, Putin was photographed walking down the Kremlin’s long hallways on his way to the inauguration, looking at documents in his office before stopping at one point to admire a painting. Photographed.
An honor guard stood by for hours in pouring sleet and rain and in sub-zero temperatures as Putin made the short trip to the Grand Kremlin Palace in an Olus limousine.
Putin spent the first moments of his fifth term thanking the “heroes” of the Ukraine war and criticizing the West.
Russia “does not refuse dialogue with Western countries,” he said. Rather, “the choice is theirs. Are they going to continue their efforts to contain Russia, are they going to continue a policy of aggression and keep putting pressure on our country for years, or are they going to seek a path to cooperation and peace?” Is that so?” he said.
When he entered the hall with more than 2,500 invited guests, he was greeted with applause. Participants included Russian government officials and celebrities such as American actor Steven Seagal.
In this pool photo distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a service at the Dormition Cathedral after Putin’s inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 7, 2024. (Right) and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill (Photo by Alexei Maishev/POOL/AFP) (Photo by ALEXEY MAISHEV/POOL/AFP, Getty Images)
In this pool photo distributed by Russia’s state agency Sputnik, members of the Russian honor guard raise the Russian flag and the flag of the President of the Russian Federation ahead of the inauguration of President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 7, 2024. Soldiers are seen (Photo credit: ALEXANDER KAZAKOV/POOL/AFP) (Photo credit: ALEXANDER KAZAKOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
In this pool photo distributed by Russian state news agency Sputnik, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (right) attends the inauguration ceremony of Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 7, 2024. and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin (left) (photo). (Photo: ALEXANDER KAZAKOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The ambassadors of the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany were not present. The U.S. Embassy announced that Ambassador Lynn Tracy is out of the country on “scheduled personal travel.”
The EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, told him that the “right thing to do is not to attend this inauguration” because Putin is the subject of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for war crimes. A small number of European Union envoys attended. He claimed personal responsibility for the kidnapping of children from Ukraine.
A French diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said the French ambassador was among those in attendance.
Following President Putin’s remarks, a 30-gun salute was fired. In a light rain, he inspected the Presidential Regiment in the Kremlin’s Cathedral Square before entering the nearby Cathedral of the Annunciation and receiving a blessing from Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church.
During the short service, Kirill compared Putin to Prince Alexander Nevsky, a medieval ruler who “bravely defended his people on the battlefield.”
He reminded Putin that heads of state “sometimes have to make fateful and terrible decisions” that can result in casualties, but this is clearly a church-backed conflict. This appears to be referring to the large number of casualties in Ukraine.
The question now is what Putin, 71, will do at home and abroad during his next six years in the Kremlin.
As Kiev struggles with shortages of personnel and ammunition, the Russian military is expanding its presence in Ukraine and deploying scorched-earth tactics.
Ukraine has brought the fight to mainland Russia through drone and missile attacks, particularly in border areas. In a February speech, Putin vowed to do what is necessary to achieve Moscow’s goals in Ukraine and “protect the sovereignty of our country and the security of our people.”
Immediately after his orchestrated re-election in March, Putin hinted at the possibility of a conflict between NATO and Russia and announced his intention to create a buffer zone in Ukraine to protect his country from cross-border attacks.
This photo of the pool, distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, shows Russian President Vladimir Putin looking at the presidential regiment honor guard after the inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 7, 2024. Credit: SERGEI GUNEYEV/POOL/AFP) (Photo Credit: Sergei Guneyev/POOL/AFP) Sergei Guneyev/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
MOSCOW, RUSSIA – MAY 7: (Russia Withdrawal) Russian politician Ramzan, Head of the Chechen Republic, reacts in the hall after the inauguration of President Vladimir Putin at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, May 7, 2024. Kadyrov. President Putin has been inaugurated for his fourth term. (Photo credit/Getty Images)
This photo of the pool, distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, shows members of the presidential regiment’s honor guard participating in the post-inauguration parade of President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 7, 2024. (Photo provided by : Pavel Bednyakov/POOL/AFP) (Photo by: Pavel Bednyakov/POOL/AFP) Pavel Bednyakov/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The Russian government has now been dissolved, allowing President Putin to name a new prime minister and cabinet.
One key area to focus on is the Ministry of Defence.
Last month, Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, a subordinate of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, was detained on suspicion of bribery amid reports of widespread corruption. Some analysts have suggested Mr. Shoigu could be the victim of a government reshuffle, but that would be a bold move while the war is still raging.
Domestically, President Putin’s popularity is closely tied to the rising standard of living of ordinary Russians.
President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday once again promised Russians a prosperous future, but many have seen the cost of living rise since the invasion of Ukraine.
President Putin began his term in 2018 by promising to put Russia among the world’s top five economies, vowing that Russia must be “modern and dynamic.” Instead, Russia’s economy is on a war footing, with authorities spending record amounts on defense.
Analysts say that now that Putin has secured six more years in power, the government could take the unpopular step of raising taxes to finance the war and pressure more men to join the military. It says that there is a sex.
In the years following the invasion, authorities cracked down on all forms of dissent with a ferocity not seen since Soviet times.
President Putin signaled Tuesday that he intends to continue silencing his critics.
He told the audience in the Grand Kremlin Palace to remember “the tragic cost of internal chaos and upheaval” and that Russia “must strongly and absolutely resist any challenge or threat.” said.
President Putin will enter his fifth term with virtually no opposition in the country.
A law has been enacted that threatens long-term prison sentences for those who discredit the military. The Kremlin has also targeted people who do not adhere to Russia’s “traditional family values,” which Putin has emphasized, including independent media, rights groups, and LGBTQ+ activists.
His biggest political rival, opposition leader Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic penal colony in February. Other prominent critics have been jailed or fled the country, and some of his opponents abroad fear for their safety.
Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, released a video ahead of the inauguration saying that Putin’s promises were “not only empty, they are false.”
According to her, Russia is “ruled by liars, thieves and murderers.”
