Putin's annual address offers snapshot of Russian world view
By Robert Hackwill



MOSCOW: -- The television address gave a snapshot of Putin and Russia’s view of the world, a sort of parallel universe where corrupted public figures are credible Nobel Peace Prize winners, and the European far-right represents a reforming force within the EU.

There was much about Syria and Turkey, but a deafening quiet about other recent hot issues such as Ukraine, although Putin did for the first time acknowledge that there were Russian military personnel active in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine, something Kyiv has insisted on since the start of the conflict, but that the Russians have always denied.

Seen through the Russian prism the world is a dangerous place exploited by a US-led western hegemony, but Russia stands by, strong and united, ready to play a global role.

“As for Joseph Blatter, he is a highly respected man. He has done a lot for the development of world football. He is the person who should have been awarded Nobel Peace Prize,” said Putin, straight-faced.

It is a vision that sees Donald Trump as a strong leader, and a person Russia can do business with if he wins the US presidency.

For virtually the first time Putin offered comments on his personal and family life, which until now has been strictly off-limits, and gave news about his daughters.

“They are making the first steps in their careers and they are successful. I never discuss questions related to my family. They are not involved in business. And they are not involved in politics. They are not pushing for this,” insisted Putin.

Little is known about Putin’s daughters. In April 2014 Katerina Tikhonova competed at the World Rock’n‘Roll Acrobatic competition in Poland with Ivan Klimov.

According to Russian opinion polls Putin currently revels in a 90% approval rating and his face is everywhere on tourist souvenirs. Barring a major mishap, he looks set to stay there.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2015-12-18

It is a vision that sees Donald Trump as a strong leader, and a person Russia can do business with if he wins the US presidency.

And a beautiful vision it is!

Strange, I thought are resident troll team also pumped for Putin ... yet no comments here

And he finally admitted Russian troops are in Ukraine. So basically admitting he's been lying about this the whole time. Great world leader.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35118927

"We never said there were no people there who were carrying out certain tasks, including in the military sphere," President Putin told the annual news conference.

It is an important admission. After months of denial, insisting that the only Russians fighting in eastern Ukraine were either "volunteers" or "army servicemen on holidays", Mr Putin now says Russian military personnel are on the ground and are involved in the fighting.

He still maintains "there are no Russian troops there" and insists there is a difference. However the distinction may be very blurred for Ukrainian soldiers facing the Russian-backed separatists and Russian military personnel, as has now been admitted.

Whether the Russian servicemen are attached to the separatist units, or are there as commanders, trainers or advisers and are not on the ground as regular units, is in many ways a technicality. What President Putin has admitted is that Russia is present in eastern Ukraine and is engaged in military activity.

He's as delusional as a Russian in my village that not only flies the Russian Federation flag but the new one with Putin's picture on it

This of course as his investment houses sit empty to do lack of Russian tourists

And he finally admitted Russian troops are in Ukraine. So basically admitting he's been lying about this the whole time. Great world leader.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35118927

"We never said there were no people there who were carrying out certain tasks, including in the military sphere," President Putin told the annual news conference.

It is an important admission. After months of denial, insisting that the only Russians fighting in eastern Ukraine were either "volunteers" or "army servicemen on holidays", Mr Putin now says Russian military personnel are on the ground and are involved in the fighting.

He still maintains "there are no Russian troops there" and insists there is a difference. However the distinction may be very blurred for Ukrainian soldiers facing the Russian-backed separatists and Russian military personnel, as has now been admitted.

Whether the Russian servicemen are attached to the separatist units, or are there as commanders, trainers or advisers and are not on the ground as regular units, is in many ways a technicality. What President Putin has admitted is that Russia is present in eastern Ukraine and is engaged in military activity.

And he finally admitted Russian troops are in Ukraine. So basically admitting he's been lying about this the whole time. Great world leader.

As compared to which lying political figure or 'leader' in the West. They're all a pack of wolves.

A post with an aberrant spelling of a politician's name has been removed.

And he finally admitted Russian troops are in Ukraine. So basically admitting he's been lying about this the whole time. Great world leader.

Let me introduce you to the Right Hon.Tony Blair, who gulled the British parliament into believing the myth of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

An honourable man and great world leader?