Vladimir Putin delivered an annual address to the Federal Assembly on February 21, underscoring that his speech came at a “borderline time of drastic changes in the world, defining the future of the entire country.” Russian President Vladimir Putin focused on the crisis in Ukraine and the broader global security crisis as he delivered the Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly at the Gostiny Dvor venue in Moscow on February 21. Putin underscored that this was a “milestone time” for Russia, fraught with “radical, irreversible changes” reverberating throughout the world. The Russian leader specified that the historical events that are currently taking shape would “determine the future of our country and our people, when the enormous responsibility lies with each of us." Here are some of the key takeaways from the speech, which was broadcast live by leading television channels. New START Suspended The president made a big announcement during his speech, saying that Russia is suspending its participation in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). > "I have to announce today that Russia is suspending its participation in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. Let me say it again — [Russia] does not withdraw from the treaty, but specifically suspends its participation. But before returning to discussing it, we need to understand what countries such as France and the United Kingdom consider to be as their strategic arsenals, and how we will take them into account, that is, the combined strike potential of the [North Atlantic] Alliance," Putin said. According to the Russian head of state, Washington had put forth an unacceptable ultimatum to Russia concerning the New START. > "Now, through representatives of NATO, in fact, they are putting forward an ultimatum — 'Russia should fulfill everything you agreed to, including the START Treaty, and we will behave as we please,' as if there is no connection between the problems of START and, say, the conflict in Ukraine, or other hostile actions against our country. As if there are no loud statements that they want to inflict a strategic defeat to us," Putin said. Vladimir Putin also told the Federal Assembly that there was information that the United States was considering the possibility of full-scale tests of their nuclear weapons, adding that the Russian Ministry of Defense and Rosatom must be ready to test Russian nuclear weapons if Washington really does conduct the test first. Amid the drastically deteriorated Russian-US relations, which are Washington's "accomplishment," according to Putin, he said he had signed a decree to put new strategic ground-based complexes on combat duty. Russia will also implement the most advanced developments to improve the potential of the Army and Navy, Putin added. "We have such developments and samples of weapons and equipment in every area. Many of them are substantially superior to their foreign analogues," Putin said, noting that such work is underway, and its pace is constantly increasing. Russia Not At War With Ukrainians As anticipated, in his address the Russian president predominantly focused on the situation in Ukraine, where Russia has been conducting a special military operation since February 24, 2022. Vladimir Putin stressed that Russia was not at war with the people of the neighbouring country. The people of Ukraine are "hostages to the regime in Kiev and its Western masters," as their country is being used as a "tool" and "launchpad" for a conflict against Russia, the president stated. Putin said that Russia had done everything possible to solve the Donbass problem by peaceful means. However, a year ago Russia was forced to step in to “protect people living in Russia’s historic lands, to eliminate the threat of the Nazi regime" that hung over the region, whose people had been "fighting for their right to live on their own land, speak in their native language" since the 2014 coup in Ukraine that was backed by the West. > "Promises of the Western rulers, their statements about a desire to establish peace in Donbass turned into, as we now see, a forgery, a cruel lie. They were just playing for time, engaging in chicanery, turning a blind eye to political assassinations and the repression of the Kiev regime," Putin said in his address. In a reference to the 2015 Minsk peace accords, which the former German and French leaders have since admitted were not aimed at bringing the crisis in the Donbass to an end, but were a "bluff" aimed at preparing the Kiev regime for war against Russia, Putin blasted the West for behaving "as if they are proud of and revel in their treachery." SOURCE: [SPUTNIK](https://sputniknews.com/20230221/from-new-start-freeze-to-reasons-for-ukraine-op-key-takeaways-from-putins-federal-assembly-address-1107653700.html)