Latest war in Ukraine: Russia “develops nuclear power plant” for joint moon base with China | World News

By Ivor Bennett, Moscow correspondent

The ceremony, held in the Tsar’s throne room, felt more like a coronation than an inauguration.

And that was one of the points. The symbolism was key.

The Andreevsky Hall, where Vladimir Putin took his oath of office, is dripping with gold.

It radiates power.

I think this was an attempt to portray him as a modern tsar who is the rightful ruler of Russia.

The other goal was to give its leadership and policies a stamp of electoral legitimacy.

The Kremlin’s chief spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, previously told me that this was just part of the “democratic” political process (see our post from 1:35 p.m.).

The speech was typical of Putin – emphasizing Russia’s greatness, blaming the West for Moscow’s isolation and intensifying his current path of conflict abroad and repression at home.

He said that for him the safety of the Russian people was “first and foremost.”

Translation – we’re in it for the long haul.

But whose fault is Russia’s status as a global pariah?

Not ours, he said.

This was all part of the Kremlin’s narrative to portray the West as the aggressor and Russia as the victim.

What might worry people at home and abroad was the tone of the speech.

For example, he issued a thinly veiled warning that protests would not be tolerated, saying it was important “not to forget the tragic cost of internal unrest,” adding that Russia must be “absolutely resistant” to it.

And the last line: “We will overcome all obstacles and carry out all our plans.”

Vladimir Putin seems more confident than ever.