President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, in his traditional New Year's message to Russians, stated that millions of people across the country “they think about those who are fighting in the war with Ukraine, they feel sorry for them and have hope”.
— We are united in sincere, boundless and devoted love for Russia. I wish you well Happy New Year to all our soldiers and commanders! We believe in you and in our victory! Putin said.
“New chapters of the thousand-year history” of Russia
Putin also emphasized that in the last moments before the New Year, everyone “feels the passage of time” because “the future lies ahead of us.” According to him, this future depends on the Russians themselves. — We count on our own strength, on those who are next to us, who are close and dear to us, and we are always ready to lend a helping hand. Such mutual help gives us confidence that everything we intend, our hopes and plans will surely come true Putin said.
He added that everyone has their own plans, but all “are inextricably linked with the fate of our homeland, with a sincere desire to serve it.”
The article continues below the video
What were the most important elements of Putin's speech?
How long did Putin's New Year's address last?
What did Putin wish for the soldiers?
What words dominated Putin's speech?
— We are together, the people of Russia. The work, successes and achievements of each of us create new chapters of its thousand-year history. And the strength of our unity determines the sovereignty and security of the homeland, its development and its future, the president emphasized.
At the end of his speech he wished Russians health, happiness and “necessarily love”.
“Sovereignty” and “traditions” instead of “stability” and “economy”
Together Putin's speech lasted 3 minutes and 21 seconds. It was the shortest speech since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, the message lasted almost 9 minutes, in 2023 – 3 minutes and 45 seconds, and in 2024 – again approximately 9 minutes. Previously, in 2018–2019, Putin recorded wishes lasting 3–4 minutes.
In recent years, Putin has stopped giving specific economic goals in his New Year's speeches moved on to vague references to “historical mission” and “civilizational choice”as pointed out by political scientist Dmitry Łobojko.
Most frequently used words such as “development”, “stability” and “economy” have been replaced by “sovereignty” and “traditions”, the expert noted.
Putin delivered the first New Year's address on war in 2022. Then he returned to the earlier format, but still mentioned the war participants, and he described the Ukrainian front as “the front line of the fight for truth and justice”.
