On June 11, Vladimir Putin delivered a lengthy public speech, making several controversial statements regarding history, politics, and the current state of affairs inside and outside Russia.
Putin accused Poland of provoking World War II, denied that Russia is a “paper tiger”, and quoted Pushkin. He also admitted that Russia tried to join NATO in the early 2000s, revealing that part of the Russian elite sought integration with the Alliance.
Putin commented on incidents involving Russian drones in NATO airspace, notably Denmark, denying plans to attack NATO members, but blamed Europe for militarization and alleged preparations for possible aggression.
He addressed the Russian economy, citing record growth but at the same time announcing a VAT increase. Meanwhile, Russia is experiencing a fuel crisis, highlighted by the attack on the Orsk oil refinery.
Putin threatened to strike Ukrainian nuclear power plants, claiming Russia seeks peace but shifting the blame onto Europe for blocking peace initiatives, while also confirming Russia's preparation for prolonged confrontation.
The author stresses the need to support the Ukrainian army and appeals for donations, which enable Ukrainian forces to obtain modern FPV drones for the front line.
The speech, according to the author, demonstrates Putin's detachment from reality and misjudgment of the situation—factors that may lead to flawed decisions by Russia and further escalation of the conflict.
