Putin spoke at the United Russia congress – Kommersant

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke at the 21st Congress of the United Russia party. Earlier, the congress delegates unanimously supported his nomination as a candidate for the upcoming presidential elections. The congress takes place today, December 17, at the exhibition-forum “Russia” at VDNKh.

“We must remember and never forget, and teach our children: Russia will either be a self-sufficient, sovereign power, or it will not exist at all. This is a very important thing that should always be in our heads and hearts,” the president said.

Vladimir Putin expressed confidence that United Russia offers and will continue to offer society a unifying and creative agenda, responding and responding to the most pressing issues in the life of the Russian Federation. He called the increase of all levels of public power the most important task.

According to the president, time demands from Russian society firmness, unity and readiness to respond to even the most difficult challenges. Anything that divides people must be put aside, he added. He called attempts to violate interethnic and interreligious civil harmony a betrayal and a crime against Russia.

The head of state said that the key to Russia’s dynamic development is competition, diversity of ideas, opinions, open and honest discussion of problems and solutions. According to the president, it is necessary to determine plans for the future of the country together with citizens.

Vladimir Putin said that the state is now implementing a range of projects so that talented and motivated people can benefit the country. Such work with public opinion leaders, professionals, volunteers and veterans of military operations on the territory of Ukraine should be the most important for United Russia, he added.

On December 16, the initiative group of voters at a meeting in the Zaryadye concert hall unanimously supported self-nomination of Vladimir Putin in the presidential elections. The President announced his intention to participate in them on December 8.

Voting will last three days – from March 15 to 17, 2024. Also planning to run are, in particular, former DPR Defense Minister Igor Strelkov and Dolgoprudny municipal deputy from the Union of Right Forces Boris Nadezhdin. Chairman of the Federal Political Committee of the Yabloko Party Grigory Yavlinsky will consider such an opportunity if 10 million signatures are collected in support of it.

Read more about the meeting of the initiative group in the material “Support, support and support again”.