On December 4 Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual state of the nation address to the Federal Assembly, the both chambers of Russia’s parliament. The state of the nation address is a basic document, which outlines the president’s positions on major directions of the Russian policies not only for the coming year, but also for future.
Position on the Ukrainian crisis and Crimea's unification with Russia
Russia has the right to pursue its sole line of development, the president said. "This applies to Ukraine as well," Putin said. He called hypocritical the use of human's rights issue to cover for the state coup in Ukraine.
The president recalled the Crimean referendum and the reunification of the republic with Russia. The reunification, he said, is a major historic event. Crimea has significance for Russia, he said, and Russians will handle it that way forever.
{article_photo:759665:'Putin We are guided by interests rather than feelings in dealing with our partners':'left':'50'}On US influence
The United States always influences Russia’s relations with neighbouring states directly or behind-the-scenes, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
Getting back to the way Russia’s dialogue with Europe and the US on Ukraine was developing, the president said “It is not by chance that I have mentioned our American friends, as they have always been influencing our relations with neighbours directly or behind-the-scenes”.
“If some European countries have forgotten about their national pride long ago and are considering sovereignty to be a great luxury, real state sovereignty is an absolutely essential condition for Russia’s existence,” Putin said.
{article_photo:760359:'Western countries harm themselves sanctioning Russia — Putin':'left':'50'}On sanctions
“Of course, sanctions are harmful, but they are harmful for everyone, including for those who initiate them,” Putin stressed. The Russian president however said sanctions and restrictions motivate to reach the set aims. Putin said he's sure that the sanctions are not just a “nervous reaction of the United States and its allies” to Russia’s behavior in connection with events in Ukraine and not due to “the Crimean spring.”
“The policy of containment was not invented yesterday. It has been carried out against this country for many and many years — always, if one can say. For decades if not centuries,” Putin said.
“Each time when someone believes that Russia has become too strong, independent, these tools are used immediately,” the Russian leader said.
Russia isn't going to stop relations with Europe or America. Besides, Putin said, Russia has many strategic friends and partners in the world. The country will be open for the world and for attracting investments from abroad for joint projects, the president said. He sets a task of increasing the investment in the Russian economy to 25% of the GDP by 2018.
On import substitution
Reasonable import substitution is Russia's strategic goal in the near future, Vladimir Putin said in his address. Russia should get rid of dependency on foreign equipment, including for oil drilling in the Arctic, the president said. According to him, when foreign companies buy equipment abroad, it doesn't do any good for Russia. They should use local products, Putin said. If Rusia buys anything abroad, the products have to be unique. Putin set the task to create conditions fot the SME to take part in the government procurement programs.
{article_opinion:259:'Who loves Russia should wish freedom for it'}On support of terrorism in Russia from abroad and disbalance in the world
Since 2002, when the US abandoned the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty, there's been a threat of strategic disbalance in the world, and it's bad even for the US itself, Vladimir Putin said. "I think this is harmful for the United States as well, because it creates the dangerous illusion of invincibility,” Putin said.
He noted Russia isn't going to get involved in the arms race though it will do its best to provide its security. The president added that Russia has nonstandard solutions.