Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned Russia is united because it faces the threats of “worldwide terrorism” and challenges to its sovereignty posed by the “colonial West” that, he mentioned, was attempting to “deliver discord to our dwelling.”

“We will overcome every thing collectively,” Putin mentioned as he launched his handle, in response to a BBC feed. He praised Russian residents, companies and troops in Ukraine for his or her efforts in “defending the Motherland.”

The Russian chief led a minute’s silence to honor Russia’s armed forces, then extolled the “colossal” battlefield expertise they gained through the two years of preventing in Ukraine.

Putin mentioned Russian forces have been on the offensive and have been “liberating” new territories in Ukraine, as soon as once more repeating unsubstantiated claims that Russia is in search of to overthrow a “Nazi” regime within the nation. He added that the West had provoked the battle in Ukraine, and the Center East.

Putin lined a variety of subjects, together with Russia’s superior weapons methods and the hazard of a nuclear battle with the West, if NATO troops have been deployed in Ukraine. He accused the West of attempting to tug Moscow into an “arms race,” including that Russia was prepared for dialogue with the U.S. on “strategic stability” however wouldn’t be compelled into talks.

Putin then turned to home issues, encouraging Russians to have giant households and indicating his need to deal with low incomes and improve life expectancy in Russia.

The speech is being delivered to round 1,000 lawmakers and officers, religion leaders, diplomats and journalists. As was the case final 12 months, contributors in Russia’s “particular navy operation” (code for conflict) in Ukraine have additionally been invited to the occasion — Putin’s nineteenth handle of its sort.

The subjects of the handle usually are not often revealed forward of the speech, however Putin mentioned final week that the upcoming message takes under consideration “the inner political calendar” and can set Russia’s targets for the subsequent six years. His speech comes lower than a month earlier than the presidential election on March 15-17 that Putin is anticipated to win given the dearth of non-systemic opposition figures in Russia.

There’s hypothesis that Putin may use his State of the Nation handle on Thursday to make some announcement about Transnistria, doubtlessly even bolstering Russia’s small navy presence within the separatist area.