The Russian leader recorded his traditional end-of-year speech, wishing happy holidays to his compatriots and listing the most important changes and challenges that the country faced in 2022.
Dear citizens of Russia! Dear friends!2022 draws to a close. It was a year of difficult but necessary decisions and important steps towards attaining full sovereignty for Russia and consolidating Russian society.It was a year that put many things in place. It separated bravery and heroism from treachery and cowardice.It showed that there is no greater force than love for your family, loyalty to your friends, comrades and to your motherland.It was a year of truly pivotal, fateful events that lay the foundations of our collective future, of our true independence.This is what we are fighting for today.We defend our people who live on our historic lands as new regions of the Russian Federation.We build and create together.The fate of Russia is what matters the most.The defense of our motherland is our sacred duty to our forefathers and ancestors.Moral and historic correctness is on our side.The outgoing year brought massive fundamental changes for our country and for the world. It was full of upheavals, worries and turmoil.But just like during all the troubled times in Russia’s history, our multinational people showed bravery and supported the defenders of the motherland, our soldiers and officers, all participants of the special military operation, with words and actions.We have always known, and today we once again confirm it, that the sovereign, independent future of Russia depends on us, on our strength and our will.For years, western elites hypocritically assured us that their intentions are peaceful, including their attempts to resolve the difficult conflict in Donbass. Meanwhile, they encouraged the neo-Nazis who continued to perpetrate military and openly terrorist actions against the civilians in the people’s republics of Donbass.The West lied about peace while preparing for aggression, and today, it openly admits it.The West cynically uses Ukraine and its people to weaken and divide Russia. But we never have and never will allow anyone to do that.Russian soldiers, militiamen and volunteers now fight for their native land, for truth and justice, for ensuring the guarantees of peace and safety for Russia.
