In response to Putin’s speech, US President Joe Biden declared his support for Ukraine and democracy, stating, “The Americans stand with you, and the world stands with you.” Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Mariinsky Palace and noted that “one year later, Kyiv stands.”
As Putin delivered his speech, Chinese Communist Party’s most senior foreign policy official, Wang Yi, was visiting the Russian capital. Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, hailed the multidimensional and allied nature of Russia-China ties and did not rule out Putin’s meeting with Wang Yi. Meanwhile, Biden was scheduled to meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda as Putin’s speech was starting.
The speech ended with Putin stating that Russia’s goal was to ensure the country’s security and that the country would continue to protect its interests in the world. The rouble weakened on Tuesday as a result of the speech, with investors becoming increasingly concerned about the possibility of new sanctions against Russia.
Overall, Putin’s speech was a warning to the West and a message of support to Ukraine. Despite the concerns raised by Putin’s nuclear threat, it remains to be seen whether any action will be taken in response. For now, the world watches and waits to see what will happen next.
