Putin: The West has unleashed a war, Russia is trying to end it

"They started the war. And Russia is using force to stop it", - Vladimir Putin said live on air.

Russian President Vladimir Putin began delivering his 18th address to the Federal Assembly at 12:06 Moscow time. He performs at Gostiny Dvor in Moscow. The event is scheduled until 13 o'clock.

On the eve of the message, the Kremlin warned that the president's speech would include an assessment of the military operation on Ukraine.

The annual address to the Federal Assembly is a constitutional duty of the Head of State, enshrined in article 84 of the Basic Law of the Country. In 2022, the message was not announced. The Kremlin explained this by the "very large dynamics of events", which prevents the fixation of important points in the message to the Federal Assembly.