Vladimir Putin was inaugurated for his fifth term as Russian President in an extravagant ceremony at the Kremlin on Tuesday.
Having started his presidency in 1999, the 71-year-old has been in power for 25 years. His recent election victory in March secured him another six-year term, uncontested.
Putin is anticipated to hold office until 2030. However, his inauguration was met with boycotts from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and 20 EU member states due to the conflict in Ukraine. Despite this, Putin reassured that Russians are more unified than ever.
In 2022, Ukraine invaded Russia, sparking Europe’s largest war since World War II. In response, Russia faced severe sanctions from the West, prompting Putin to seek support from China, Iran, and North Korea.
During his inauguration speech, Putin expressed confidence in overcoming the challenges, emphasizing Russia’s unity and resilience. He also conveyed Russia’s willingness to foster relationships with other nations, particularly what he referred to as “the world’s majority.”
Among the attendees were Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, and other government officials.