Russian President Vladimir Putin said it was up the West to choose between confrontation and cooperation as he was sworn in for a new six-year term on Tuesday at a Kremlin ceremony that was boycotted by the United States and many of its allies.
More than two years into the war in Ukraine, Putin said he wanted to "bow" before Russia's soldiers there and declared in his inauguration speech that his landslide re-election in March was proof the country was united and on the right track.
Putin told Russia's political elite after being sworn in that he was not rejecting dialogue with the West, including on nuclear weapons.
"The choice is theirs: do they intend to continue trying to restrain the development of Russia, continue the policy of aggression, incessant pressure on our country for years, or look for a path to cooperation and peace?" he said.
@ISIDEWITH3 أسابيع3W
إذا كان لديك خيار، هل تدعم جهود بلدك لتغيير الوضع العالمي الحالي، حتى لو واجهت مقاومة دولية؟
@ISIDEWITH3 أسابيع3W
مدى أهمية أن تكون الأمة "متحدة وعلى الطريق الصحيح" وفقًا لزعيمها، وماذا يعني ذلك بالنسبة لك شخصيًا؟