Putin warns foreign countries against "provocations".
No state should cross Russia's "red lines": In his State of the Nation address, Kremlin leader Putin announced that he would react harshly and quickly to "provocations" by other countries.
21.04.2021, 13.57 hrs
The Ukraine crisis and the Nawalny case: Russia's relations with the US, the EU and Nato are at their worst since the Cold War. Head of state Vladimir Putin warned foreign countries against any provocation in his state of the nation address.
Russia will react harshly and quickly, Putin said in parliament in Moscow. The Kremlin leader spoke of persistent and unprovoked unfriendly actions against Russia that extended into sport. While Moscow seeks good relations with other countries and is ready for dialogue, he said he hoped no state would cross Russia's "red lines". Russia will always find a way to defend its interests.
The reason for the poor relations with foreign countries is, among other things, the action against the imprisoned Putin critic Alexei Nawalny (read more here). In addition, the conflict in eastern Ukraine has intensified further: Moscow supports pro-Russian separatists there and recently deployed tens of thousands of soldiers to the border.
The USA has also imposed new sanctions over accusations of Russian interference in the US election. At the weekend, the Czech Republic accused Russia of being responsible for an attack on an ammunition depot in the NATO country some seven years ago. Both countries then expelled numerous diplomats of the other side.
Herd immunity against Corona in autumn
Putin is targeting herd immunity against the corona virus for his country in the autumn. "Vaccinations are now crucial (...) so that herd immunity can be formed by autumn," the Kremlin leader said.
At the same time, Putin praised Russia's scientists for achieving a "real breakthrough" in the fight against the pandemic. There are now "three reliable vaccines against the coronavirus" from his country.
The president admitted that there was a certain "reluctance" among the population to vaccinate. Putin himself has already received both vaccine injections. The 68-year-old did not make public whether he chose Sputnik V, EpiVacCorona or CoviVac.
source: spiegel.de