In short, Putin was very defensive, concerned about addressing domestic concerns about economy and the future of people, and the casualties in the war. He blamed the West for the war and argued that Russia had no choice. This last argument looked very weak. 15/15

→ View original post on X — @mylovanov,

6. Next, Putin makes an argument that the West was ready to attack Donbas in February 2022. But it did not. Instead, Putin attacked Donbas and Ukraine. 7. Then, there is a long passage about the bad imperialistic warmongering, immoral and decaying West. 8/

→ View original post on X — @mylovanov,

2. He then talks about how Ukraine was killing and terrorising people in Donbas before the war. The truth, of course, is different. The number of people killed in Donbas was high in 2014-2016 when Russian invaded there, went to almost 0 by 2021, and back to 1000s in 2022. 4/

→ View original post on X — @mylovanov,

Now, key messages. 1. Putin starts by acknowledging that the future of Russia is being decided now. He claims that Russia was threaten by a nazi regime in Ukraine that came to power after a coup in 2014. This makes no sense because there is no evidence of nazis regime. 3/

→ View original post on X — @mylovanov,

So, Putin has spoken today. A year after his infamous speech justifying the war and announcing annexation of the East of Ukraine. What's new? 1. Much less rhetoric about Ukraine being a failed state. I guess that would not fly today even to the domestic audience, would it? 1/

→ View original post on X — @mylovanov,

apologies, but i won't be doing any interviews, broadcasts or spaces this week. i will be spending this time with my family going through a very triggering and mentally devastating week — while we are still in the middle of a genocide

→ View original post on X — @maksymeristavi,

Ukraine does’t need navalny’s permission or validation about our own border. we need: 1) reparations deadlines; 2) condemnation of centuries of russian colonial crimes; 3) clear apology for years of xenophobic insults, gaslighting, racism + failure to stop the genocide

→ View original post on X — @maksymeristavi,