Changes

Despite Western [[propaganda]] and calls for an uprising to overthrow Vladimir Putin, more than 1 million people turned out in the streets of [[Moscow]] for the 2022 [[Victory Day]] celebrations of the Immortal Regiment for which Vladimir Putin was the featured honored speaker.<ref>https://videopress.com/v/KnJnf4eu</ref>

Despite Western [[propaganda]] and calls for an uprising to overthrow Vladimir Putin, more than 1 million people turned out in the streets of [[Moscow]] for the 2022 [[Victory Day]] celebrations of the Immortal Regiment for which Vladimir Putin was the featured honored speaker.<ref>https://videopress.com/v/KnJnf4eu</ref>

Putin had increased Russia's stature in international affairs despite its weak economic position.<ref>Seib, Gerald F. (May 6, 2019). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/putin-punches-above-his-weight-11557150000 Putin Punches Above His Weight]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved May 7, 2019.</ref>  As a result of the economic sanctions leveled against Putin, he was booted out of the [[World Economic Forum]].<ref>https://twitter.com/teddyfenton1/status/1498792512772784128|</ref>  As of March 2022 however, Putin still maintained a [[Twitter]] account, although not very often used.  According to Kremlin press spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin considers it dishonest to allow staff and media consultants to script twitter messages in his name. <ref>https://thefederalist.com/2022/03/04/after-banning-trump-for-denouncing-violence-twitter-lets-putin-keep-his-account/</ref>

Putin had increased Russia's stature in international affairs despite its weak economic position.<ref>Seib, Gerald F. (May 6, 2019). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/putin-punches-above-his-weight-11557150000 Putin Punches Above His Weight]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved May 7, 2019.</ref>  As a result of the economic sanctions leveled against Putin, he was booted out of the [[World Economic Forum]].<ref>https://twitter.com/teddyfenton1/status/1498792512772784128|</ref>  As of March 2022 however, Putin still maintained a [[Twitter]] account, although not very often used.  According to Kremlin press spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin considers it dishonest to allow staff and media consultants to script twitter messages in his name.<ref>https://thefederalist.com/2022/03/04/after-banning-trump-for-denouncing-violence-twitter-lets-putin-keep-his-account/</ref>

A baptized Russian Orthodox [[Christian]] who quotes the [[Bible]],<ref>https://www.libertynation.com/why-vladimir-putin-quotes-the-bible/ (analyzing with skepticism Putin's quote of [[Scriptures]]).</ref> Putin leads the increasingly [[conservative]] Russia against the [[homosexual agenda]], [[transgenderism]], and towards the [[pro-life]] side.  [[Abortion]] and other [[leftist]] values had virtually wiped out natural population growth in [[Soviet]] times, and left an indelible scar on [[culture]].  Liberals criticize Putin and [[Russia]] because they disagree with him on social issues.  [[Obama]] even refused to attend the Winter Olympic games held in Russia in 2014. Putin has also criticized liberal values as "against nature" and out of touch with a more traditional population.<ref>Multiple references:

A baptized Russian Orthodox [[Christian]] who quotes the [[Bible]],<ref>https://www.libertynation.com/why-vladimir-putin-quotes-the-bible/ (analyzing with skepticism Putin's quote of [[Scriptures]]).</ref> Putin leads the increasingly [[conservative]] Russia against the [[homosexual agenda]], [[transgenderism]], and towards the [[pro-life]] side.  [[Abortion]] and other [[leftist]] values had virtually wiped out natural population growth in [[Soviet]] times, and left an indelible scar on [[culture]].  Liberals criticize Putin and [[Russia]] because they disagree with him on social issues.  [[Obama]] even refused to attend the Winter Olympic games held in Russia in 2014. Putin has also criticized liberal values as "against nature" and out of touch with a more traditional population.<ref>Multiple references:

*[https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-tells-ft-the-liberal-idea-has-become-obsolete-/30026237.html Putin Tells FT: 'The Liberal Idea Has Become Obsolete']. ''Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty''. Retrieved June 29, 2019.</ref>  Putin may privately seek to issue a new era of [[Orthodox Christian|Orthodox]] [[Christendom]] with [[Moscow]] as the Third Rome.  Under this view, Moscow would succeed [[Constantinople]] as the center of Orthodoxy after nearly 1700 years.  

*[https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-tells-ft-the-liberal-idea-has-become-obsolete-/30026237.html Putin Tells FT: 'The Liberal Idea Has Become Obsolete']. ''Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty''. Retrieved June 29, 2019.</ref>  Putin may privately seek to issue a new era of [[Orthodox Christian|Orthodox]] [[Christendom]] with [[Moscow]] as the Third Rome.  Under this view, Moscow would succeed [[Constantinople]] as the center of Orthodoxy after nearly 1700 years.  

Putin was invited to speak at Keren Heyesod’s annual gathering in 2019,<ref>http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/61546</ref> and in 2020 [[Israel]] invited him to participate in the “Remembering The Holocaust: Fighting Anti-Semitism” forum.<ref>http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62646</ref> Former Prime Minister Bennett praised him in October 2021 as “a very close and true friend of the State of Israel.”<ref>https://archive.is/xQewW</ref>

Putin was invited to speak at Keren Heyesod's annual gathering in 2019,<ref>http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/61546</ref> and in 2020 [[Israel]] invited him to participate in the “Remembering The Holocaust: Fighting Anti-Semitism” forum.<ref>http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62646</ref> Former Prime Minister Bennett praised him in October 2021 as “a very close and true friend of the State of Israel.”<ref>https://archive.is/xQewW</ref>

{|class="infobox" style="float:right; font-size:85%; width:1ex; line-height:17px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 50px" cellpadding="1"

{|class="infobox" style="float:right; font-size:85%; width:1ex; line-height:17px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 50px" cellpadding="1"

|}

|}

==Background==

==Background==

Putin was born in [[Leningrad]] on [[October]] 7, 1952.  His parents were survivors the [[Siege of Leningrad]], however his 1-year-old brother, Igor, was not, and is buried along with 500,000 other victims in a public park.  Putin's father had six brothers, and five of them died in the war. Some of his mother’s relatives were also killed in the conflict. Putin said that his parents had no hatred for the German soldiers. “How can anyone hate those soldiers? They were ordinary people and they also died in battle....They are laborers, just like us. They were sent to the front too,” his mother told him.<ref>https://www.rbth.com/politics/2015/05/07/vladimir_putin_reveals_familys_wwii_ordeals_in_magazine_article_45805.html</ref>

Putin was born in [[Leningrad]] on [[October]] 7, 1952.  His parents were survivors the [[Siege of Leningrad]], however his 1-year-old brother, Igor, was not, and is buried along with 500,000 other victims in a public park.  Putin's father had six brothers, and five of them died in the war. Some of his mother's relatives were also killed in the conflict. Putin said that his parents had no hatred for the German soldiers. “How can anyone hate those soldiers? They were ordinary people and they also died in battle....They are laborers, just like us. They were sent to the front too,” his mother told him.<ref>https://www.rbth.com/politics/2015/05/07/vladimir_putin_reveals_familys_wwii_ordeals_in_magazine_article_45805.html</ref>

Putin writes of his father during the war,

Putin writes of his father during the war,

As the 1990s progressed, Western [[capital]] and corporate raiders flooded into Russia to buy up Soviet assets at bargain basement prices.  Prior to the collapse, Soviet enterprises did not operate on the profit motive and received government subsidies, keeping outmoded factories and industries alive while operating at a loss to keep workers employed. When the subsidies and transfers of wealth perished with the Soviet government, the country fell into a deep recession.  People were not very enamored toward the transition to capitalism as foreign investors took control of the nation's economy.<ref>In a review of ''New York Times'' reporter Anne Williamson's book, ''Contagion: The Betrayal of Liberty -- Russia and the United States in the 1990s'', Paul Likoudis writes: "According to the [[socialist]] theoreticians at [[Harvard]], Russia needed to be brought into the [[New World Order]] in a hurry; and what better way to do it than [Jeffrey] Sachs' "shock therapy" -- a plan that empowered the degenerate, third-generation descendants of the original [[Bolshevik]]s by assigning them the deeds of Russia's mightiest state-owned industries -- including the giant gas, oil, electrical, and telecommunications industries, the world's largest paper, iron, and steel factories, the world's richest gold, silver, diamond, and platinum mines, automobile and airplane factories, etc. -- who, in turn, sold some of their shares of the properties to Westerners for a song, and pocketed the cash, while retaining control of the companies.

As the 1990s progressed, Western [[capital]] and corporate raiders flooded into Russia to buy up Soviet assets at bargain basement prices.  Prior to the collapse, Soviet enterprises did not operate on the profit motive and received government subsidies, keeping outmoded factories and industries alive while operating at a loss to keep workers employed. When the subsidies and transfers of wealth perished with the Soviet government, the country fell into a deep recession.  People were not very enamored toward the transition to capitalism as foreign investors took control of the nation's economy.<ref>In a review of ''New York Times'' reporter Anne Williamson's book, ''Contagion: The Betrayal of Liberty -- Russia and the United States in the 1990s'', Paul Likoudis writes: "According to the [[socialist]] theoreticians at [[Harvard]], Russia needed to be brought into the [[New World Order]] in a hurry; and what better way to do it than [Jeffrey] Sachs' "shock therapy" -- a plan that empowered the degenerate, third-generation descendants of the original [[Bolshevik]]s by assigning them the deeds of Russia's mightiest state-owned industries -- including the giant gas, oil, electrical, and telecommunications industries, the world's largest paper, iron, and steel factories, the world's richest gold, silver, diamond, and platinum mines, automobile and airplane factories, etc. -- who, in turn, sold some of their shares of the properties to Westerners for a song, and pocketed the cash, while retaining control of the companies.

These third-generation Bolsheviks -- led by former [[Pravda]] hack Yegor Gaidar, grandson of a Bolshevik who achieved prominence as the [[Young mass murders|teenage mass murderer]] of [[White Army]] officers, now heads the Moscow-based Institute for Economies in Transition -- became instant millionaires (or billionaires) and left the Russian workers virtual slaves of them and their new foreign investors."<br>[https://www.blacklistednews.com/HOW_CLINTON_AND_COMPANY_AND_THE_BANKERS_PLUNDERED_RUSSIA_IN_THE_%2790S/48111/0/38/38/Y/M.html HOW CLINTON AND COMPANY AND THE BANKERS PLUNDERED RUSSIA IN THE '90s], Paul Likoudis, January 2, 2016 </ref>  As in the Dresden incident, Putin's reputation of instinctively standing up to foreign intruders in defense of his country propelled his political rise.

These third-generation Bolsheviks -- led by former [[Pravda]] hack Yegor Gaidar, grandson of a Bolshevik who achieved prominence as the [[Young mass murders|teenage mass murderer]] of [[White Army]] officers, now heads the Moscow-based Institute for Economies in Transition -- became instant millionaires (or billionaires) and left the Russian workers virtual slaves of them and their new foreign investors."<br>[https://www.blacklistednews.com/HOW_CLINTON_AND_COMPANY_AND_THE_BANKERS_PLUNDERED_RUSSIA_IN_THE_%2790S/48111/0/38/38/Y/M.html HOW CLINTON AND COMPANY AND THE BANKERS PLUNDERED RUSSIA IN THE '90s], Paul Likoudis, January 2, 2016</ref>  As in the Dresden incident, Putin's reputation of instinctively standing up to foreign intruders in defense of his country propelled his political rise.

Putin became the brunt of much globalist snarling, typically answered with the words of Barack Obama, "The 80s are calling. They want their foreign policy back".<ref>https://www.salon.com/2012/10/23/obama_the_80s_called_they_want_their_foreign_policy_back/</ref>  Putin is known for his quick-witted sense of humor.

Putin became the brunt of much globalist snarling, typically answered with the words of Barack Obama, "The 80s are calling. They want their foreign policy back".<ref>https://www.salon.com/2012/10/23/obama_the_80s_called_they_want_their_foreign_policy_back/</ref>  Putin is known for his quick-witted sense of humor.

When we say that we object to NATO's expansion to the East, we are not expressing any special ambitions of our own, ambitions in respect of some regions of the world. ... By the way, we have never declared any part of the world a zone of our national interests. Personally, I prefer to speak about strategic partnership. The zone of strategic interests of any particular region means first of all the interests of the people who live in that region. ...}}

When we say that we object to NATO's expansion to the East, we are not expressing any special ambitions of our own, ambitions in respect of some regions of the world. ... By the way, we have never declared any part of the world a zone of our national interests. Personally, I prefer to speak about strategic partnership. The zone of strategic interests of any particular region means first of all the interests of the people who live in that region. ...}}

Within hours after the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], Vladimir Putin was the first foreign leader to call President [[George W. Bush]] and offer sympathy and support for what became the first invocation of NATO Article V, "an attack against one is an attack against all."<ref>https://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/09/10/ar911.russia.putin/index.html</ref>  Putin announced a five-point plan to support the [[war on terror]], pledging that the Russian government would (1) share intelligence with their American counterparts, (2) open Russian airspace for flights providing humanitarian assistance (3) cooperate with Russia's Central Asian allies in [[Uzbekistan]] and [[Kyrgyzstan]] to provide similar kinds of airspace access to American flights, (4) participate in international search and rescue efforts, and (5) increase direct assistance -humanitarian as well as military assistance -- to the Afghan Northern Alliance.  The intelligence Putin shared, including data that helped American forces find their way around [[Kabul]] and logistical information about Afghanistan’s topography and caves, contributed to the success of operation and rout of the Taliban.  Two weeks after the attacks, Putin was invited to make a speech to a Special Session of the Bundestag, the first ever by a Russian head of state to the German parliament.<ref>http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/40168</ref>  Among the numerous subjects Putin addressed in fluent German was peace and stability in the common European home:

Within hours after the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], Vladimir Putin was the first foreign leader to call President [[George W. Bush]] and offer sympathy and support for what became the first invocation of NATO Article V, "an attack against one is an attack against all."<ref>https://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/09/10/ar911.russia.putin/index.html</ref>  Putin announced a five-point plan to support the [[war on terror]], pledging that the Russian government would (1) share intelligence with their American counterparts, (2) open Russian airspace for flights providing humanitarian assistance (3) cooperate with Russia's Central Asian allies in [[Uzbekistan]] and [[Kyrgyzstan]] to provide similar kinds of airspace access to American flights, (4) participate in international search and rescue efforts, and (5) increase direct assistance -humanitarian as well as military assistance—to the Afghan Northern Alliance.  The intelligence Putin shared, including data that helped American forces find their way around [[Kabul]] and logistical information about Afghanistan's topography and caves, contributed to the success of operation and rout of the Taliban.  Two weeks after the attacks, Putin was invited to make a speech to a Special Session of the Bundestag, the first ever by a Russian head of state to the German parliament.<ref>http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/40168</ref>  Among the numerous subjects Putin addressed in fluent German was peace and stability in the common European home:

{{quotebox-float|"But what are we lacking today for cooperation to be efficient?

{{quotebox-float|"But what are we lacking today for cooperation to be efficient?

{{See also|Maidan coup}}

{{See also|Maidan coup}}

[[File:Revolution of Dignity.PNG|left|300px|thumb|Russian victims of the Obama-backed "[[Revolution of Dignity]]."<ref>https://archive.fo/1XFO5</ref>]]

[[File:Revolution of Dignity.PNG|left|300px|thumb|Russian victims of the Obama-backed "[[Revolution of Dignity]]."<ref>https://archive.fo/1XFO5</ref>]]

Putin is seen as an antagonist by [[liberal]]s in the West, who are angry about their inability to push the [[homosexual agenda]] and pro-[[abortion]] policies on Russia. Putin views NATO enlargement by absorbing former Soviet client states as a potential threat to the Russian Federation. Putin has proposed a policy of "Findlandization", i.e., making permanently neutral the Ukraine and Georgia and not incorporating them into NATO under the US's Partners for Peace program. Putin's alleged rigged election system, nuclear energy contracts and military alliance with Iran have heightened tensions. According to [[mainstream media]], the decline of [[human rights]] in Russia has been dramatic; for example, Russian riot police beat a number of protesters and journalists at an anti-Putin rally at Pushkin Square in Moscow,<ref>''The Economist'', April 21, 2007</ref> and Putin rigged national elections for his party <ref>https://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSL03585550._CH_.2400</ref>  

Putin is seen as an antagonist by [[liberal]]s in the West, who are angry about their inability to push the [[homosexual agenda]] and pro-[[abortion]] policies on Russia. Putin views NATO enlargement by absorbing former Soviet client states as a potential threat to the Russian Federation. Putin has proposed a policy of "Findlandization", i.e., making permanently neutral the Ukraine and Georgia and not incorporating them into NATO under the US's Partners for Peace program. Putin's alleged rigged election system, nuclear energy contracts and military alliance with Iran have heightened tensions. According to [[mainstream media]], the decline of [[human rights]] in Russia has been dramatic; for example, Russian riot police beat a number of protesters and journalists at an anti-Putin rally at Pushkin Square in Moscow,<ref name="The Economist, April 21, 2007">''The Economist'', April 21, 2007</ref> and Putin rigged national elections for his party <ref>https://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSL03585550._CH_.2400</ref>  

Putin has even exercised power over the Russian supreme court. Justice Vladimir Yaroslavtsev was forced to resign after warning that Russian security agencies now control the country as they did in Soviet times and expressing alarm over their lack of accountability. Justice Anatoly Kononov was likewise forced out after defending Yaroslavtsev.<ref>[http://www.robertamsterdam.com/2009/12/are_you_an_independent_russian_judge_youre_fired.htm ''Are You An Independent Russian Judge? You're Fired'', RobertAmsterdam.com]</ref>

Putin has even exercised power over the Russian supreme court. Justice Vladimir Yaroslavtsev was forced to resign after warning that Russian security agencies now control the country as they did in Soviet times and expressing alarm over their lack of accountability. Justice Anatoly Kononov was likewise forced out after defending Yaroslavtsev.<ref>[http://www.robertamsterdam.com/2009/12/are_you_an_independent_russian_judge_youre_fired.htm ''Are You An Independent Russian Judge? You're Fired'', RobertAmsterdam.com]</ref>

Many who have reported or protested such things have found themselves being repressed - or killed.<ref>[https://www.americanthinker.com/2009/12/putins_own_worst_enemy.html Kim Zigfeld, ''Putin's Own Worst Enemy''] American Thinker, December 08, 2009</ref><ref>http://larussophobe.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/editorial-another-russian-journalist-takes-the-putin-plunge</ref> Journalist [[Anna Politkovskaya]], an outspoken critic of Putin, was assassinated in 2006,<ref>http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article1819666.ece</ref> and it is widely believed that the Russian government had some involvement in this death. There were 13 journalists killed in contract-style slayings during Vladimir Putin's eight-year presidency.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,438381,00.html Russian Lawyer in Slain Journalist Case Says She, Family Poisoned] AP, October 15, 2008</ref>

Many who have reported or protested such things have found themselves being repressed - or killed.<ref>[https://www.americanthinker.com/2009/12/putins_own_worst_enemy.html Kim Zigfeld, ''Putin's Own Worst Enemy''] American Thinker, December 08, 2009</ref><ref>http://larussophobe.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/editorial-another-russian-journalist-takes-the-putin-plunge</ref> Journalist [[Anna Politkovskaya]], an outspoken critic of Putin, was assassinated in 2006,<ref>http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article1819666.ece</ref> and it is widely believed that the Russian government had some involvement in this death. There were 13 journalists killed in contract-style slayings during Vladimir Putin's eight-year presidency.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,438381,00.html Russian Lawyer in Slain Journalist Case Says She, Family Poisoned] AP, October 15, 2008</ref>

Despite these negatives – or perhaps because of the strong hand they reveal – Putin remains popular in Russia.<ref>http://www.levada.ru/prezident.html Putin's Approval Ratings</ref> Since coming to power, Putin has expanded Russia's economy and reduced inflation. The majority of Russians are relatively uninterested in politics outside of issues affecting their personal prosperity,<ref>''The Economist'', April 21, 2007</ref> and journalist [[Anna Politkovskaya]] argued that the Russian people, as a whole, have been willing to tolerate violence in the name of "comfort and peace and quiet".<ref>Politkovskaya, Anna. Putin's Russia. London: Harvill Press, 2004</ref>

Despite these negatives – or perhaps because of the strong hand they reveal – Putin remains popular in Russia.<ref>http://www.levada.ru/prezident.html Putin's Approval Ratings</ref> Since coming to power, Putin has expanded Russia's economy and reduced inflation. The majority of Russians are relatively uninterested in politics outside of issues affecting their personal prosperity,<ref name="The Economist, April 21, 2007"/> and journalist [[Anna Politkovskaya]] argued that the Russian people, as a whole, have been willing to tolerate violence in the name of "comfort and peace and quiet".<ref>Politkovskaya, Anna. Putin's Russia. London: Harvill Press, 2004</ref>

===Relations under Donald Trump===

===Relations under Donald Trump===

====Empire of Lies speech====

====Empire of Lies speech====

On February 24, 2022 Putin delivered an anti-[[woke]] speech condemning the United States promotion, both domestically and among its allies, [[values]] that are "contrary to human nature":

On February 24, 2022, Putin delivered an anti-[[woke]] speech condemning the United States promotion, both domestically and among its allies, [[values]] that are "contrary to human nature":

[[File:Putin and Zelensky.png|right|300px|thumb|Putin's "My Pet Goat" moment: Putin being briefed on [[Volodoymr Zelensky]]'s [[transvestism]] and wearing high heels.<ref>https://www.bitchute.com/video/f1Ll6yw172sg/</ref>]]

[[File:Putin and Zelensky.png|right|300px|thumb|Putin's "My Pet Goat" moment: Putin being briefed on [[Volodoymr Zelensky]]'s [[transvestism]] and wearing high heels.<ref>https://www.bitchute.com/video/f1Ll6yw172sg/</ref>]]

{{quotebox-float|"US politicians, political scientists and journalists write and say that a veritable “empire of lies” has been created inside the United States in recent years. It is hard to disagree with this – it is really so. But one should not be modest about it: the United States is still a great country and a system-forming power. All its satellites not only humbly and obediently say 'yes' to, and parrot it at the slightest pretext, but also imitate its behavior and enthusiastically accept the rules it is offering them. Therefore, one can say with good reason and confidence that the whole so-called [[Western bloc]] formed by the United States in its own image and likeness is, in its entirety, the very same “empire of lies.”

{{quotebox-float|"US politicians, political scientists and journalists write and say that a veritable “empire of lies” has been created inside the United States in recent years. It is hard to disagree with this – it is really so. But one should not be modest about it: the United States is still a great country and a system-forming power. All its satellites not only humbly and obediently say 'yes' to, and parrot it at the slightest pretext, but also imitate its behavior and enthusiastically accept the rules it is offering them. Therefore, one can say with good reason and confidence that the whole so-called [[Western bloc]] formed by the United States in its own image and likeness is, in its entirety, the very same “empire of lies.”

As for our country, after the disintegration of the USSR, given the entire unprecedented [[glasnost|openness]] of the new, modern Russia, its readiness to work honestly with the United States and other Western partners, and its practically unilateral disarmament, they immediately tried to put the final squeeze on us, finish us off, and utterly destroy us. This is how it was in the 1990s and the early 2000s, when the so-called collective West was actively supporting separatism and gangs of [[mercenaries]] in southern Russia. What victims, what losses we had to sustain, and [[Russia#Chechen_wars|what trials we had to go through]] at that time before we broke the back of international terrorism in the [[Caucasus]]! We remember this and will never forget.<ref>Putin is speaking of such events as the [[Beslan massacre]]</ref>

As for our country, after the disintegration of the USSR, given the entire unprecedented [[glasnost|openness]] of the new, modern Russia, its readiness to work honestly with the United States and other Western partners, and its practically unilateral disarmament, they immediately tried to put the final squeeze on us, finish us off, and utterly destroy us. This is how it was in the 1990s and the early 2000s, when the so-called collective West was actively supporting separatism and gangs of [[mercenaries]] in southern Russia. What victims, what losses we had to sustain, and [[Russia#Chechen wars|what trials we had to go through]] at that time before we broke the back of international terrorism in the [[Caucasus]]! We remember this and will never forget.<ref>Putin is speaking of such events as the [[Beslan massacre]]</ref>

Properly speaking, the attempts to use us in their own interests never ceased until quite recently: they sought to destroy our [[traditional values]] and force on us their [[Liberalism|false values]] that would erode us, our people from within, the attitudes they have been aggressively imposing on their countries, attitudes that are directly leading to degradation and degeneration, because they are contrary to [[human nature]]. This is not going to happen. No one has ever succeeded in doing this, nor will they succeed now."<ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-24/full-transcript-vladimir-putin-s-televised-address-to-russia-on-ukraine-feb-24</ref>}}

Properly speaking, the attempts to use us in their own interests never ceased until quite recently: they sought to destroy our [[traditional values]] and force on us their [[Liberalism|false values]] that would erode us, our people from within, the attitudes they have been aggressively imposing on their countries, attitudes that are directly leading to degradation and degeneration, because they are contrary to [[human nature]]. This is not going to happen. No one has ever succeeded in doing this, nor will they succeed now."<ref name="bloomberg.com">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-24/full-transcript-vladimir-putin-s-televised-address-to-russia-on-ukraine-feb-24</ref>}}

====Donbas war====

====Donbas war====

====Responsibility to protect, preventative action, and collective self-defense====

====Responsibility to protect, preventative action, and collective self-defense====

{{See also|Russia-Ukraine war}}

{{See also|Russia-Ukraine war}}

Vladimir Putin set forth a claim under the doctrine of 'anticipatory collective self-defense' which was devised originally by the [[Clinton administration]] and NATO in regard to the 1998 [[Kosovo]] conflict,<ref>https://youtu.be/rsSB_2RShBQ</ref> as it applies to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.<ref> https://consortiumnews.com/2022/03/29/russia-ukraine-the-law-of-war-crime-of-aggression/</ref>  The unilateral declarations of independence by the Donbas republics are completely legal and precedented by [[the West]]'s successful demands for Kosovo to be recognized as independent from [[Serbia]], and adjudicated as such by the International Courts.<ref>https://www.icj-cij.org/en/case/141</ref>

Vladimir Putin set forth a claim under the doctrine of 'anticipatory collective self-defense' which was devised originally by the [[Clinton administration]] and NATO in regard to the 1998 [[Kosovo]] conflict,<ref>https://youtu.be/rsSB_2RShBQ</ref> as it applies to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.<ref>https://consortiumnews.com/2022/03/29/russia-ukraine-the-law-of-war-crime-of-aggression/</ref>  The unilateral declarations of independence by the Donbas republics are completely legal and precedented by [[the West]]'s successful demands for Kosovo to be recognized as independent from [[Serbia]], and adjudicated as such by the International Courts.<ref>https://www.icj-cij.org/en/case/141</ref>

[[File:Stalin and Truman.PNG|right|300px|thumb|Stalin (''left'') with [[Harry Truman]] (''right'').  Truman is considered by presidential historians as one of America's greatest presidents because he used nuclear weapons to spare American soldiers lives and end a war from dragging on.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2012/09/24/from-franklin-delano-roosevelt-to-john-f-kennedy-newsweek-s-10-best-presidents-photos.html|title=From Franklin Delano Roosevelt to John F. Kennedy, Newsweek's 10 Best Presidents (Photos)|work=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=September 24, 2012|access-date=|archive-date=April 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424210738/http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2012/09/24/from-franklin-delano-roosevelt-to-john-f-kennedy-newsweek-s-10-best-presidents-photos.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/fixgov/posts/2015/02/13-obama-measuring-presidential-greatness-vaughn-rottinghaus|title=Measuring Obama against the great presidents|author=Brandon Rottinghaus|date=February 13, 2015|work=The Brookings Institution|access-date=|archive-date=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106025720/http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/fixgov/posts/2015/02/13-obama-measuring-presidential-greatness-vaughn-rottinghaus|url-status=live}}</ref> ]]

[[File:Stalin and Truman.PNG|right|300px|thumb|Stalin (''left'') with [[Harry Truman]] (''right'').  Truman is considered by presidential historians as one of America's greatest presidents because he used nuclear weapons to spare American soldiers lives and end a war from dragging on.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2012/09/24/from-franklin-delano-roosevelt-to-john-f-kennedy-newsweek-s-10-best-presidents-photos.html|title=From Franklin Delano Roosevelt to John F. Kennedy, Newsweek's 10 Best Presidents (Photos)|work=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=September 24, 2012|access-date=|archive-date=April 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424210738/http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2012/09/24/from-franklin-delano-roosevelt-to-john-f-kennedy-newsweek-s-10-best-presidents-photos.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/fixgov/posts/2015/02/13-obama-measuring-presidential-greatness-vaughn-rottinghaus|title=Measuring Obama against the great presidents|author=Brandon Rottinghaus|date=February 13, 2015|work=The Brookings Institution|access-date=|archive-date=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106025720/http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/fixgov/posts/2015/02/13-obama-measuring-presidential-greatness-vaughn-rottinghaus|url-status=live}}</ref> ]]

The Organization of World Peace reported in 2021, “according to Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Decree no. 117/2021, Ukraine has committed to putting all options on the table to taking back control over the Russian annexed Crimea region. Signed on March 24th, President Zelensky has committed the country to pursue strategies that . . . ‘will prepare and implement measures to ensure the de-occupation and reintegration of the peninsula.’”<ref>https://theowp.org/ukraine-declares-all-options-possible-even-war-to-retake-crimea-from-russia/</ref>  Given that the residents of Crimea, most of whom are ethnic Russians, are quite happy with the current state of affairs under Russian governance – this, according to a 2020 ''[[Washington Post]]'' report – Zelensky’s threat in this regard was not only a threat against Russia itself but was also a threat of potentially massive bloodshed against a people who do not want to go back to Ukraine.<ref>https://archive.ph/5s7Cd</ref>  The Donbas war represents a much more compelling case for justifying Russian intervention under the ''Responsibility to Protect'' (R2P) doctrine which has been advocated by such Western ‘humanitarians’ as [[Hillary Clinton]], [[Samantha Power]], and [[Susan Rice]], and which was relied upon to justify the NATO interventions in countries like the former [[Yugoslavia]] and [[Libya]].

The Organization of World Peace reported in 2021, “according to Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Decree no. 117/2021, Ukraine has committed to putting all options on the table to taking back control over the Russian annexed Crimea region. Signed on March 24th, President Zelensky has committed the country to pursue strategies that . . . ‘will prepare and implement measures to ensure the de-occupation and reintegration of the peninsula.’”<ref>https://theowp.org/ukraine-declares-all-options-possible-even-war-to-retake-crimea-from-russia/</ref>  Given that the residents of Crimea, most of whom are ethnic Russians, are quite happy with the current state of affairs under Russian governance – this, according to a 2020 ''[[Washington Post]]'' report – Zelensky’s threat in this regard was not only a threat against Russia itself but was also a threat of potentially massive bloodshed against a people who do not want to go back to Ukraine.<ref>https://archive.ph/5s7Cd</ref>  The Donbas war represents a much more compelling case for justifying Russian intervention under the ''Responsibility to Protect'' (R2P) doctrine which has been advocated by such Western ‘humanitarians’ as [[Hillary Clinton]], [[Samantha Power]], and [[Susan Rice]], and which was relied upon to justify the NATO interventions in countries like the former [[Yugoslavia]] and [[Libya]].

In 1998, Kosovo was not a member of the United Nations, so the right of collective self-defense of member states was challenged. Kosovo was forcibly severed from a member state, [[Serbia]], by NATO and given legal status later. Residents of Kosovo never voted by referendum to declare independence from Serbia.  By established international precedents, in 2014 the residents of the [[Donetsk Republic]], the [[Lugansk Republic]], and [[Crimea]] voted to separate from [[Ukraine]].  The Russian State Duma recognized the decision of the voters and change in international borders, annexed Crimea and in 2022 signed collective security agreements with the Donetsk and Lugansk republics.

In 1998, Kosovo was not a member of the United Nations, so the right of collective self-defense of member states was challenged. Kosovo was forcibly severed from a member state, [[Serbia]], by NATO and given legal status later. Residents of Kosovo never voted by referendum to declare independence from Serbia.  By established international precedents, in 2014 the residents of the [[Donetsk Republic]], the [[Lugansk Republic]], and [[Crimea]] voted to separate from [[Ukraine]].  The Russian State Duma recognized the decision of the voters and change in international borders, annexed Crimea and in 2022 signed collective security agreements with the Donetsk and Lugansk republics.

On February 24, 2022 Vladimir Putin addressed the nation and made clear the objective of the [[Special Military Operation]] in Ukraine was not [[regime change]]:

On February 24, 2022, Vladimir Putin addressed the nation and made clear the objective of the [[Special Military Operation]] in Ukraine was not [[regime change]]:

{{quotebox-float|"The purpose of this operation is to protect people who, for eight years now, have been facing humiliation and [[genocide]] perpetrated by the Kiev regime. To this end, we will seek to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, as well as bring to trial those who perpetrated numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including against citizens of the Russian Federation.  It is not our plan to occupy the Ukrainian territory. We do not intend to impose anything on anyone by force."<ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-24/full-transcript-vladimir-putin-s-televised-address-to-russia-on-ukraine-feb-24</ref>}}

{{quotebox-float|"The purpose of this operation is to protect people who, for eight years now, have been facing humiliation and [[genocide]] perpetrated by the Kiev regime. To this end, we will seek to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, as well as bring to trial those who perpetrated numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including against citizens of the Russian Federation.  It is not our plan to occupy the Ukrainian territory. We do not intend to impose anything on anyone by force."<ref name="bloomberg.com">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-24/full-transcript-vladimir-putin-s-televised-address-to-russia-on-ukraine-feb-24</ref>}}

====Partial mobilization====

====Partial mobilization====

For the first time since [[World War II]], Putin announced on September 21, 2022 announced a partial mobilization of military reserves:

For the first time since [[World War II]], Putin announced on September 21, 2022, announced a partial mobilization of military reserves:

{{quotebox-float|"The purpose of this West is to weaken, divide and ultimately destroy our country. They are already directly saying that in 1991 they were able to split the Soviet Union, and now the time has come for Russia itself, and that it should disintegrate into many mortally warring regions and regions,” the Russian president stressed....

{{quotebox-float|"The purpose of this West is to weaken, divide and ultimately destroy our country. They are already directly saying that in 1991 they were able to split the Soviet Union, and now the time has come for Russia itself, and that it should disintegrate into many mortally warring regions and regions,” the Russian president stressed....

====Meeting with State Duma leadership and heads of factions====

====Meeting with State Duma leadership and heads of factions====

{{See also|NATO aggression in the Russia-Ukraine war}}

{{See also|NATO aggression in the Russia-Ukraine war}}

On July 7, 2022 President Putin met with a group of Russian State Duma parliamentarians to brief them on the Special Military Operation on the territory of Ukraine. In the course of the briefing, Putin noted:

On July 7, 2022, President Putin met with a group of Russian State Duma parliamentarians to brief them on the Special Military Operation on the territory of Ukraine. In the course of the briefing, Putin noted:

{{quotebox-float|"They [the West] should have understood that they have already lost from the very beginning of our [[special military operation]], because its beginning means the beginning of a radical breakdown of the [[New World Order|World Order in the American way]]. This is the beginning of the transition from [[liberal]]-[[globalist]] American [[ego]]centrism to a truly multipolar world – a world based not on selfish rules invented by someone for themselves, behind which there is nothing but the desire for hegemony, not on [[hypocrisy|hypocritical]] [[double standard]]s, but on [[international law]], on the true [[sovereignty]] of peoples and [[civilization]]s, on their will to live their historical destiny, their [[values]] and [[tradition]]s and build cooperation on the basis of [[democracy]], [[justice]] and [[equality]]. And we must understand that this process can no longer be stopped.”<ref>[https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/07/dysfunction.html?cid=6a00d8341c640e53ef02a30d436d48200b#comment-6a00d8341c640e53ef02a30d436d48200b Dysfunction] </ref>}}

{{quotebox-float|"They [the West] should have understood that they have already lost from the very beginning of our [[special military operation]], because its beginning means the beginning of a radical breakdown of the [[New World Order|World Order in the American way]]. This is the beginning of the transition from [[liberal]]-[[globalist]] American [[ego]]centrism to a truly multipolar world – a world based not on selfish rules invented by someone for themselves, behind which there is nothing but the desire for hegemony, not on [[hypocrisy|hypocritical]] [[double standard]]s, but on [[international law]], on the true [[sovereignty]] of peoples and [[civilization]]s, on their will to live their historical destiny, their [[values]] and [[tradition]]s and build cooperation on the basis of [[democracy]], [[justice]] and [[equality]]. And we must understand that this process can no longer be stopped.”<ref>[https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/07/dysfunction.html?cid=6a00d8341c640e53ef02a30d436d48200b#comment-6a00d8341c640e53ef02a30d436d48200b Dysfunction]</ref>}}

====Remarks on the golden billion====

====Remarks on the golden billion====

The '[[golden billion]]' has become a euphemism for the privileged population on the NATO states in North America and Europe, or what is sometimes called 'the collective West' which include [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]].  Speaking to the Strong Ideas for a New Time forum  in Moscow on July 19, 2022, Putin said, "The model of the total dominance of the so-called golden billion is unjust...Why should this 'golden billion' among the planet's population dominate others, impose its own rules of conduct?...Based on the illusion of 'exclusivity', this model divides people into first and second class status, and is therefore racist and neo-colonial in its essence…And the [[globalist]], supposedly [[liberal]] ideology which underlies it, is increasingly acquiring the features of [[totalitarianism]], holding back creative pursuit and free historical creation...No matter how much [[the West]] and the supranational elite strive to preserve the existing order, a new era and a new stage in world history are coming. Only genuinely [[sovereign]] states are in a position to ensure a high growth dynamic and become a role model for others in terms of standards of living and quality of life, the protection of traditional values and high humanistic ideals, and development models where an individual is not a means, but the ultimate goal.”<ref>http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/69039</ref>

The '[[golden billion]]' has become a euphemism for the privileged population on the NATO states in North America and Europe, or what is sometimes called 'the collective West' which include [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]].  Speaking to the Strong Ideas for a New Time forum  in Moscow on July 19, 2022, Putin said, "The model of the total dominance of the so-called golden billion is unjust...Why should this 'golden billion' among the planet's population dominate others, impose its own rules of conduct?...Based on the illusion of 'exclusivity', this model divides people into first and second class status, and is therefore racist and neo-colonial in its essence…And the [[globalist]], supposedly [[liberal]] ideology which underlies it, is increasingly acquiring the features of [[totalitarianism]], holding back creative pursuit and free historical creation...No matter how much [[the West]] and the supranational elite strive to preserve the existing order, a new era and a new stage in world history are coming. Only genuinely [[sovereign]] states are in a position to ensure a high growth dynamic and become a role model for others in terms of standards of living and quality of life, the protection of traditional values and high humanistic ideals, and development models where an individual is not a means, but the ultimate goal.”<ref>http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/69039</ref>

====Comments on the Ukrainian nuclear dirty bomb====

====Comments on the Ukrainian nuclear dirty bomb====

On October 26, 2022 President Putin held a working meeting, via videoconference, with the permanent members of the Security Council of Russia.  President Putin noted in that meeting:

On October 26, 2022, President Putin held a working meeting, via videoconference, with the permanent members of the Security Council of Russia.  President Putin noted in that meeting:

{{quotebox-float|"Some countries have long been using the tactics of [[blackmail]], pressure and intimidation throughout the CIS space.  In particular, attempts continue to be made to implement ‘[[color revolution]]’ scenarios, methods involving [[nationalism]] and [[extremism]] are employed, and armed conflicts, which directly threaten the security of all CIS members, are being stoked.

{{quotebox-float|"Some countries have long been using the tactics of [[blackmail]], pressure and intimidation throughout the CIS space.  In particular, attempts continue to be made to implement ‘[[color revolution]]’ scenarios, methods involving [[nationalism]] and [[extremism]] are employed, and armed conflicts, which directly threaten the security of all CIS members, are being stoked.

====2022 Valdai Club speech====

====2022 Valdai Club speech====

Addressing the 2022 Valdai Club Conference,<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TryhKTBBdBs Vladimir Putin Address at the Valdai International Discussion Club 2022]</ref>President Putin said:

Addressing the 2022 Valdai Club Conference,<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TryhKTBBdBs Vladimir Putin Address at the Valdai International Discussion Club 2022]</ref> President Putin said:

{{quotebox-float|"Power over the world is what the West has put at stake in the game it plays...Western nations, which want to [[Hollywood values|impose their values]] and vision as universal, are robbing everyone, including themselves...First of all, this eradicates the creative potential of the West itself...There is a mercantile interest here too...Our adversaries, as I would call them, are trying to expand markets for their products...It’s ultimately as primitive as that...This game is certainly dangerous, bloody and I would call it dirty...Western nations deny others on the global scene the right to any kind of independence, be it political, economical or cultural...Last December [2021], Russia’s proposals to address its concerns about national security were “tossed aside” by [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]]...But in the modern world, sitting aside is hardly an option, the West can’t sit out the crises it caused...He who sows the wind will reap the whirlwind, as the proverb says”.}}

{{quotebox-float|"Power over the world is what the West has put at stake in the game it plays...Western nations, which want to [[Hollywood values|impose their values]] and vision as universal, are robbing everyone, including themselves...First of all, this eradicates the creative potential of the West itself...There is a mercantile interest here too...Our adversaries, as I would call them, are trying to expand markets for their products...It’s ultimately as primitive as that...This game is certainly dangerous, bloody and I would call it dirty...Western nations deny others on the global scene the right to any kind of independence, be it political, economical or cultural...Last December [2021], Russia’s proposals to address its concerns about national security were “tossed aside” by [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]]...But in the modern world, sitting aside is hardly an option, the West can’t sit out the crises it caused...He who sows the wind will reap the whirlwind, as the proverb says”.}}

====Fundamentals of State Policy for the Preservation and Strengthening of Traditional Russian Spiritual and Moral Values====

====Fundamentals of State Policy for the Preservation and Strengthening of Traditional Russian Spiritual and Moral Values====

On November 9, 2022 President Putin signed the decree “On Approval of the Fundamentals of State Policy for the Preservation and Strengthening of Traditional Russian Spiritual and Moral Values”<ref>http://actual.pravo.gov.ru/text.html#pnum=0001202211090019</ref>, wherein it declared:

On November 9, 2022, President Putin signed the decree “On Approval of the Fundamentals of State Policy for the Preservation and Strengthening of Traditional Russian Spiritual and Moral Values”,<ref>http://actual.pravo.gov.ru/text.html#pnum=0001202211090019</ref> wherein it declared:

{{quotebox-float|“The activities of [[extremist]] and [[terrorist]] organizations, certain [[mass media]] and mass communications, the actions of the [[United States of America]] and other unfriendly foreign states, a number of transnational corporations and foreign [[non-profit organization]]s, as well as the activities of certain organizations and individuals on the territory of Russia, pose a threat to [[traditional values]].

{{quotebox-float|“The activities of [[extremist]] and [[terrorist]] organizations, certain [[mass media]] and mass communications, the actions of the [[United States of America]] and other unfriendly foreign states, a number of transnational corporations and foreign [[non-profit organization]]s, as well as the activities of certain organizations and individuals on the territory of Russia, pose a threat to [[traditional values]].