Russian President Vladimir Putin Calls for Unity in New Year’s Address
In a New Year’s address, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for unity and praised the country’s soldiers for their efforts in maintaining peace and security in the country. Putin delivered a 3-minute and 35-second speech, one of the shortest during his presidency.
Putin began by reflecting on the past quarter of a century, saying that it was filled with significant events in Russia. “We have set great goals and achieved them, overcome many tests, because we were together. Our unity, our faith in ourselves and our strength, our abilities, have been strengthened” he said.
He then honored “fighters and commanders” who have taken on great military tasks to defend the country and provide strong guarantees for peace and security to the Russian people. “We are proud of your courage and bravery, we believe in you! In your honor, in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory and in memory of our ancestors who have always fought for the fatherland, the upcoming year 2025 in Russia will be declared the year of the defenders of the fatherland” he said.
Putin also paid tribute to the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War, saying, “We are the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of the generation that broke the back of National Socialism. We are true to the behests and traditions of our veterans.”
The length of Putin’s New Year’s address has varied over the years, with the longest being a nine-minute speech in 2022. In other years, the speeches have been shorter, with the shortest being around two minutes in 2006.