VLADIMIR Putin’s armoured motorcade was noticed heading to Kremlin early within the morning simply hours earlier than his main tackle to the nation.
Footage exhibits the automobile at 1 am native time heading to Moscow simply earlier than Mad Vlad is anticipated to ship a speech to Russia’s federal meeting to mark the one-year anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.
The dictator will replace Russia’s elite and ship a speech to members of each homes of parliament and to army commanders in addition to troopers.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed state tv: “At such a vital and really difficult juncture in our growth, our lives, everyone seems to be ready for a message within the hope of listening to an evaluation of what’s taking place, an evaluation of the particular army operation.”
Putin may even give his evaluation of the worldwide scenario and description his imaginative and prescient of Russia’s growth after the West imposed sweeping sanctions on it, the Kremlin stated.
The speech is because of start at 9 GMT in central Moscow.
The Kremlin can also be planning a celebratory live performance on the Luzhniki Stadium the next day.
A supply from Russia’s parliament confirmed to RIA Novosti {that a} rally occasion on February 22,is anticipated to be attended by 200,000 folks, together with Putin.
The date marks precisely one 12 months since Russia recognised two breakaway Ukrainian areas – Donetsk and Luhansk – as unbiased states.
It was a key step earlier than Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine on February 24 final 12 months.
Putin cancelled his addresses to the nation in September and December – fuelling hypothesis in regards to the dictator’s future.
In his final main speech, he spoke from Moscow’s Pink Sq. as he celebrated breaking worldwide regulation to annex 4 areas of Ukraine.
In the meantime, the world holds its breath forward of the looming anniversary of the invasion amid fears of a brand new onslaught on Ukraine.
Russian International Minister Sergei Lavrov stated Moscow beforehand warned that diplomats are engaged on one thing to ensure occasions within the West are “not the one ones to realize the world’s consideration“.
Russia is believed to be plotting an assault throughout two new fronts – pushing into jap and southern Ukraine.
Ukrainian defenders are bracing for an assault that would embrace 1,800 tanks, 3,950 armoured automobiles, 400 fighter jets and 300 helicopters incoming from Russia – in addition to 500,000 troopers.
It comes as Ukraine warned Putin had put his nuclear forces on excessive alert in a bid to “blackmail” the West.
US President Joe Biden made a shock go to to Kyiv for an unannounced summit whereas he was anticipated to be in Poland.
He met with Ukraine’s hero president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and the 2 of them embraced close to a memorial devoted to useless Ukrainian servicemen.
The US President vowed Washington will stand with Kyiv for “so long as it takes.”