Russian President Vladimir Putin won a new term and expressed gratitude to Russian citizens who participated in the presidential elections that concluded yesterday, Sunday.
On Sunday, President Vladimir Putin warned the West against causing the outbreak of a Third World War. In statements reported by Russian media after preliminary results showed him achieving a decisive victory in the presidential election, Putin noted that the possibility of a comprehensive conflict with NATO and the presence of Western forces in Ukraine could push the world to the brink of a Third World War. He criticized Western policies, affirming the continuous advance of the Russian army on various fronts in Ukraine.
Putin stated that his election victory demonstrates how right Russia was to adopt its current approach, indicating that his win would allow for the cohesion of Russian society. He attacked Western policies, claiming "there is no democracy in the West, including the United States."
In response to comments from French President Emmanuel Macron, who stated that France would request a truce from Russia during the Olympics, Putin asserted that his country must complete the tasks related to the special military operation in Ukraine and strengthen the military, emphasizing that this is a top priority.
However, Putin added, "France can play a role in achieving a peaceful solution in Ukraine." He emphasized that "Russia must be stronger and more effective," expressing confidence in accomplishing all plans and achieving all goals. He continued, "We must complete the tasks of the special military operation in Ukraine, and the army must be stronger," pointing out that military forces are advancing there every day.
Putin commented on Russians fighting for Ukraine, stating, "There are four groups of 2,500 individuals... and those groups have lost 800 individuals." He highlighted that there are conditions for further progress to make Russia stronger, and asserted that "the source of power in the Russian Federation is the Russian people."
He also thanked Russian citizens who participated in the elections and expressed special gratitude to the soldiers who spare no effort in defending the homeland. President Putin affirmed that the few complaints at the Russian presidential election headquarters reflect the quality of the work done, describing the election results as a sign of trust from the citizens and their hope to accomplish everything.
Regarding foreign attempts to interfere in the Russian presidential election, Putin commented, "I believe they will act more sophisticatedly, but they will not change their goals concerning the Russian Federation."
It is noted that independent candidate Vladimir Putin leads the results of the Russian presidential election with 70.03% of the votes processed nationwide at 87.17%. He is followed by Nikolai Kharitonov with 4.19%, Vladislav Davankov with 4.08%, and Leonid Slutskiy with 3.15%, according to the Central Election Commission.
