Putins New Year Address: A Call for Unity in the Face of Ongoing Conflict

In his traditional New Year’s message on Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin aimed to portray a united Russian front backing the military and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, affirming a commitment to triumph as the war nears its fourth year.

«You have taken on the duty to defend your homeland, to fight for truth and justice,» Putin remarked while addressing soldiers stationed at the front. «On this New Year’s Eve, I assure you, millions throughout Russia stand with you.»

«I extend my best wishes to all our soldiers and commanders as we welcome the New Year. We have faith in you and in our triumph,» he continued.

Wearing a black suit and a dark blue tie, and positioned in front of the Kremlin, Putin expressed that Russians are «bonded by a genuine, selfless, and devoted love for our country.»

«The strength of our unity determines the sovereignty and security of the Fatherland and shapes its progress and future,» he stated, emphasizing that «the efforts, successes, and achievements of each individual contribute new chapters to [Russia’s] millennial history.»

The address, initially broadcast in the Far East before being transmitted nationwide in all 11 time zones at midnight, is a long-standing tradition for Russian leaders that dates back to the Soviet period.

This year’s speech was notably subdued and adhered to the usual pre-war format. In his 2022 New Year’s address, Putin was accompanied by dressed soldiers, projecting a more aggressive stance during the early days of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

December 31 also commemorates 26 years since Putin assumed power following former President Boris Yeltsin’s resignation in 1999.