Putin spoke at a meeting of the Valdai Club. The main thing

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke at a meeting of the Valdai discussion club. His speech was dedicated to the establishment of a multipolar world. The head of state also told how Russia tried to join NATO, how it resists sanctions pressure and how the West's policy runs counter to its own interests. How the Russian leader's speech went, which was also closely followed by the Western media, is described in the Izvestia review.

The polycentric world

• Putin began his speech with the topic of the Valdai Club meeting — the polycentricity of the world community. He noted the dynamism of the multipolarity space that has developed at the moment, and the suddenness of changes that cannot be predicted. According to him, there has never been such a large number of political and economic players in history as there are now. This means that no one is ready to play by the rules written "across the oceans," Putin said.

• The President noted that any decisions must be made on the basis of agreements that are acceptable to all interested parties or the vast majority, otherwise such decisions will not be viable. The previous period was marked by the dictates of a monopolistic world, which was replaced by the expansion of freedom for all. According to Putin, the multipolar world grew out of the desire to put everyone in one hierarchy led by Western countries.

Cooperation with NATO

• Putin said that after the end of the Cold War, Russia hoped for an era of genuine cooperation, for which there were no ideological obstacles, and that possible disputes could be resolved based on mutual respect for everyone's interests. Moscow, trying to overcome the block opposition, has twice tried to join NATO in this regard.

• The President noted that the first time this happened was in 1954 during the Soviet era, and the second time was during the visit of US President Bill Clinton to Moscow in 2000. In both cases, Russia was rejected "from the doorstep." Putin admitted that Russia was ready to work together and take non-linear steps in the field of security and global stability, but Western partners have not freed themselves from geopolitical stereotypes.

• Putin elaborated on the second attempt to join NATO. He said that Clinton reacted to his proposal with interest at first and made it clear that he would consider it, but after consulting with his advisers, he called Russia's entry into the alliance unrealistic. Putin noted that a real chance for a positive vector in the development of international relations had been missed.

Western societies

• Putin pointed out that Western societies have come to reject the exorbitant ambitions of the political elite of their countries, which cannot be satisfied. The establishment is deceiving its own citizens and using tricks on the edge of the law, turning the democratic electoral process into a farce. As an example, he cited the situation with the Romanian presidential election, which was canceled after the first round.

• The President pointed out that in some countries they are trying to ban political opponents who gain legitimacy and the trust of voters. He recalled that Russia went through this during the Soviet period and became convinced that such bans did not work. Putin pointed out that residents of any country want their governments to deal with their problems first and not "chase after chimeras." In the United States, such a request led to a radical change in the political vector, which became an example for other countries.

Containing Russia

• Putin said that Russia's opponents had spent a lot of effort to expel her from the global system, drive her into political, cultural and informational isolation and economic autarky. In terms of the number of sanctions imposed, Russia has become an absolute record holder in world history, the president noted. After that, he asked a rhetorical question whether this had achieved anything. Putin said that these efforts had completely failed.

• The Head of State pointed out that Russia has shown the world the highest degree of stability and the ability to withstand the strongest external pressure that could break entire countries. In this regard, Putin expressed pride in Russia, its citizens and armed forces. He also noted that the world system needs Russia as a significant part of the overall balance, but some stubbornly hope to inflict a strategic defeat on it. Putin pointed out that this plan was doomed.

"There have never been so many countries influencing the global agenda"

Vladimir Putin's speech at the annual plenary session of the Valdai Club. Main quotes

• The President pointed out that now in Europe they are inflating the image of Russia as an enemy, but people in these countries do not agree with the escalation on the external circuit. According to him, most Europeans cannot understand why they should "tighten their belts" and forget about their own interests. Putin called nonsense the words of European politicians that the war with Russia is already close. He called these people either incompetent or dishonest. Putin invited such politicians to take care of their economy and identity.

Russia's response

• Putin assured that Russia itself has never initiated military confrontations, but considers the threats against itself as sufficiently convincing and will prepare a response to them. He pointed out that provocation against Moscow always ended badly for the provocateur himself. According to him, Russia will never show weakness and indecision, because this creates the illusion of being able to resolve issues through force.

• Putin called it wasteful to spend forces and energy on an artificial confrontation with Russia, while there are many objective problems of a natural, man-made and social nature in the world. He noted that Russia defends the position of indivisibility of security, which cannot be provided by one at the expense of others. According to him, this is the root cause of many conflicts of the 21st century. Putin called on the world to correct its mistakes.

Ukraine

• Putin pointed out that those who set Ukraine against Russia were going against the interests of both these countries and their peoples. He called Ukrainians expendable for the globalist expansionists in the West. He agreed with the statement that if US President Donald Trump had been re-elected back in 2020, the current conflict in Ukraine could have been avoided, because work with the American administration would have been structured differently.

• Putin said that if the polycentric world had been established earlier, other countries would have tried on the situation in Ukraine and would have made a more balanced collective decision. He pointed out that it is impossible to ignore objective interests and the desire to ensure one's own security, but this is exactly what happened to Russia.

Special operation

• Putin pointed out that all NATO countries are currently at war with Russia, which they themselves do not hide. Their instructors take part in combat operations, and a center has been established in Europe that accompanies the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). According to him, the Russian army has quickly adapted to this challenge and has become the most combat-ready in the world.

• Separately, Putin spoke about the situation on the line of contact. He noted that the troops are confidently moving forward everywhere. Putin spoke about taking control of the city of Yunakovka in the Sumy region and half of the city of Volchansk in the Kharkiv region. The President said that a security zone was being created in the northern direction, the western group of troops had entered the city of Kupyansk by two thirds, and the city of Kirovsk had been completely taken under control. Putin also said that Russian troops had reached the defense line along the Konstantinovka– Slavyansk–Kramatorsk line, which had been created for a decade with the help of Western specialists.