Putin's address was simultaneously broadcast on television and in schools and government buildings, as well as displayed on large screens in public places in Russia and the occupied territories of Ukraine.[3] It was delivered a day after U.S. president Joe Biden had made a surprise visit to Kyiv, his first to Ukraine since the start of the invasion.[15][16][17][b]
On the same day but after Putin's address, CNN reported that U.S. officials had stated that a test of the Sarmat, a Russian intercontinental ballistic missile, appeared to have failed shortly before the address.[18][19] (It was initially reported that the missile test had apparently occurred while Biden was in Ukraine, but a U.S. official later stated that the test had occurred on 18 February 2023, three days before Putin's speech.[20][18]) Prior to the test, Russia had informed the U.S. of the intended missile launch, as required by New START.[20][18][c] U.S. officials stated that such a test was considered routine, and not an escalation of the conflict.[20][18][24] Putin did not mention the missile test during his speech.[25][18][21]
^The Russian constitution requires the president to address the Federal Assembly annually.[7]TASS reported that Putin stated that there was no address in 2022 "because the situation was unfolding very quickly and it was difficult 'to fix the results at a specific point, as well as specific plans for the near future.'"[8]
^Russian officials were informed about the trip hours before it began.[17]
^Russia had notified the U.S. of the missile test via deconfliction lines.[19][21][22] The U.S. also used deconfliction lines to notify Russia of Biden's visit to Kyiv.[18][23][17]
^ abcdef"Presidential Address to Federal Assembly". President of Russia (in Russian). 21 February 2023. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.((cite web)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
