Russia is suspending its participation in the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START), President Vladimir Putin said in an address to the Federal Assembly on Tuesday.
According to him, Moscow is not withdrawing from the agreement, but will return to its implementation when it understands how the nuclear arsenals of Britain and France will be accounted for. In addition, it will prepare for possible nuclear tests, but will not conduct them first.
In the speech, which lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes, the president also touched upon the topic of the special military operation, once again criticized Western policies and announced a number of new social and economic measures, including the creation of a special fund to support combat veterans and educational reforms.
TASS collected Putin's main statements.
On suspending participation in START
After recent statements by NATO, Russia has been forced to suspend its participation in the treaty: "I repeat, it is not withdrawing from the treaty, but merely suspending its participation."
Russia will return to the treaty when it understands how the arsenals of not only the US, but also those of the other NATO nuclear powers - Great Britain and France - will be taken into account.
The Russian defense ministry and Rosatom must prepare to conduct nuclear tests if necessary, but Moscow will not conduct them first.
About the operation in Ukraine
Russia has launched the special military operation to protect people in its historical territories and to eliminate the threat posed by Ukraine. It was doing everything possible for a peaceful settlement, but behind its back there was a "very different scenario" being prepared, and the Western countries involved in the negotiations were playing "red cards."
The West is ultimately responsible for the current events, trying to tear away "the historical territories that are now called Ukraine" from Russia: "It was they who unleashed the war. And we used force and will use force to stop it."
Western elites seek to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia and "intend to turn a local conflict into a phase of global confrontation," to which Moscow will respond "accordingly." The West must be aware that "it is impossible to defeat Russia on the battlefield."
Supplies of weapons to Kiev will lead to appropriate consequences: "The more long-range Western systems arrive in Ukraine, the further we will be forced to push the threat away from our borders."
On supporting participants in the operation
"I want <...> to thank our heroes - soldiers and officers of the army and navy, Rosgvardia, employees of special services and all security agencies, fighters of Donetsk and Lugansk corps, volunteers, patriots who are fighting in the ranks of the BARS combat army reserve. I want to apologize, I'm sorry that I will not be able to name everyone during today's speech."
A special state fund should be created in Russia to provide addressed assistance to veterans and families of those killed during the operation: "Each family of the deceased, each veteran should be assigned a personal social worker." The fund's structures should be rolled out in all regions of the country by the end of the year.
All participants of the special military operation, including volunteers and mobilized troops, should receive a two-week leave once every six months, not including travel time.
Officers who have distinguished themselves during the special military operation will be promoted to higher positions on a priority basis, sent to military universities, and serve as "a powerful personnel reserve for the armed forces." "Certainly, they should be in demand in civil authorities of all levels."
About support of new regions
Russia will do everything to ensure that the long-awaited peace returns to the territory of the new regions, so that human security is ensured.
In these regions, families in which children have been born from 2007 onwards will receive maternity capital.
The main support for the development of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions should be those who were born there, grew up there, fought for them: "I want to turn to them and say: 'Russia is counting on you.'"
About traitors and those who "stepped away"
The absolute majority of Russians "took a principled position on the special military operation" and supported "actions to protect Donbass": "Dear friends, I want to thank all the people of Russia for their courage and determination."
Those who "took the path of direct betrayal, committing terrorist and other crimes" will bear responsibility under the law, but the Russian authorities are not going to engage in a "witch hunt": "We will not settle scores with those who took a step aside, who turned away from their homeland. Let them have this on their conscience."
Economic measures
The West has deployed an "economic front" against Russia to "make Russians suffer," but "has not achieved anything anywhere and will not achieve anything." On the contrary, "the initiators of sanctions punish themselves."
The authorities won't destroy the economy for the sake of developing the defense industry: "We have everything we need to ensure security and create conditions for the country's confident development."
Citizens should be encouraged to invest their long-term savings in the economy; a relevant government program will start operating in April. Besides, the government will insure the voluntary retirement savings of the Russians in the amount up to 2.8 million rubles.
High-tech business will get separate support: "For them, support will be provided for the placement of shares on the domestic stock market, including tax incentives for both companies and buyers of such shares."
To stimulate the development of the economy, "any interdepartmental contradictions, formalities, misunderstandings and other nonsense must be removed": "Everything is for the cause, everything is for the result.
Social initiatives
The minimum wage must be indexed by 18.5% to 19,242 rubles starting January 1, 2024. Tax deductions will be increased: educational deduction for children will be doubled to 100 thousand rubles, while the deduction for medical treatment - from 120 thousand to 150 thousand rubles.
Russia will launch a program of preferential rental housing for defense industry employees. Rental rates for them will be significantly lower than market rates.
The program of social gas infrastructure development will become open-ended: "For citizens such a program will now operate on a permanent basis. They will always be able to apply to get their house connected to the gas supply network".
About educational reforms
Russia will return to the traditional model of higher education, the period of study will be from four to six years. If a profession requires additional training, it will be possible to continue education in master's or residency, and then - in postgraduate studies.
About privacy
Russian authorities are not going to regulate the private life of citizens: "No one is intruding on private life, and we are not going to do so." Nevertheless, it should be remembered that, as stated in the major books of all world religions, "the family is the union of a man and a woman."
About elections
Elections in Russia will take place this year and next year: "This September's local and regional elections and the presidential election in 2024 will be held in strict accordance with the law, with respect for all the democratic constitutional procedures."
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS