The Russian president attended the "Small Homeland - the Strength of Russia" forum on Monday
Russian President Vladimir Putin touched on a wide range of challenges facing his country, particularly its new and frontline regions, during his appearance at the "Small Homeland - the Strength of Russia" forum in Moscow on Monday.
Here are the key takeaways from the president's speech at the ceremony where he presented the municipal award Sluzhenie (Service), his discussions with regional and municipal leaders from across the country, and multiple engagements with journalists .
Kiev spent decades plundering Donbass
President Putin accused Ukrainian authorities of systematically exploiting the Donbass region for decades, reiterating Moscow's goal to fully reintegrate the Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, into Russia both politically and economically.
"They stole the money, forgive my bluntness, and they're still keeping it in bank accounts abroad." "We need to think about how to fulfill our duty to the people - especially those who supported the return to their historical homeland, Russia. And of course, we must respond in kind and support them. To resolve the problems that the territories face and that have been accumulating for decades," he added.
Sponsors hold Ukrainian at their mercy
Putin alleged that Western sponsors are holding Ukraine's political class captive, forcing them to serve foreign interests rather than those of their own citizens."That is why there is such a desire [in Kiev] to cooperate [with the West] and leave everything at the mercy of their sponsors. They're not fighting for the people's interests - they're fighting for the billions they stole from the Ukrainian people and sent abroad," he said. "They're hooked on those billions and wouldn't dare speak out, even if they wanted to."
Western-supplied weapons end up on black markets
Putin claimed that Western weapons intended for Ukraine are frequently diverted to illicit arms markets. "This weaponry turns up on black markets - sometimes in Africa, sometimes in the Middle East. And the stealing continues. Ukraine's level of corruption is well known," he said.
Kiev using civilian facilities for military purposes
Asked about the recent Easter ceasefire and a Ukrainian proposal for a mutual halt to strikes on civilian targets, Putin said that Moscow does not rule out such measures but stressed that Kiev has often used civilian infrastructure for military purposes."Everybody knows the strike that our armed forces delivered at a university congress center in Sumy. Is that a civilian site? Sure. But it was being used to award troops who had committed crimes" during the incursion into the Russian border region of Kursk, he said. "This was done precisely to punish them."
Failed attempts to inflict 'strategic defeat' on Russia
Putin stated that repeated attempts by Western nations to weaken or defeat Russia militarily or economically have failed. "It seems to me that the realization is now setting in - just as it did in the past, in historical times, when others tried to deliver a strategic defeat to Russia, including the Nazis," he said. "Now some Western leaders are beginning to understand this as well." He praised Russian resilience and described the strength of the nation's people as the cornerstone of its continued sovereignty. "The courage, heroism and resilience of our people have always, at all times - we will soon celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Great Patriotic War - have always been the foundation of Russia's survival. And today, this burden falls especially hard on the shoulders of those living in the border regions," Putin said.
EU threats over Victory Day
Putin also addressed reports that European officials have discouraged their representatives from attending Victory Day events in Moscow. He praised those who intend to participate despite the pressure.
READ MORE: Putin reacts to EU threats over Victory Day
"Those who are going to come to Russia have much more courage than those who are hiding behind someone's back and trying to threaten others," he said. "In this case, [threatening] those who are going to celebrate the historical merits of people who gave their lives in the fight against Nazism."
