Highlights from Putin’s talk at the Valdai forum — RT Russia & Former Soviet Union

Speaking just one day after the Republican candidate’s US election victory, the Russian president explained Moscow’s position on a range of global issues

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed pressing global issues at Sochi’s annual Valdai Club forum on Thursday. Interviewed by renowned foreign affairs expert and RT contributor Fyodor Lukyanov, Putin delved into topics ranging from NATO and international security to the ideological roots of current global tensions, openly challenging Western policies and proposing a multipolar vision for the future. Here are the major takeaways from Putin’s remarks.

Putin congratulates ‘courageous’ Trump and expresses willingness to engage with him

Putin addressed Donald Trump’s sensational US election victory, calling him a “courageous” politician who has shown resilience despite apparent assassination attempts and legal challenges. Putin said he is “ready to talk” with the American president-elect.

“We see him as a capable leader,” Putin said, praising Trump for continuing his political career under what he characterized as “unfair scrutiny.” He added that Trump’s foreign policy might offer a chance to reset US-Russia relations, though he did not specify any specific agenda items that a future dialogue might tackle. The president has previously noted his opposition to the “anti-Russian” stance he perceives from the current US administration and hopes Trump might pursue a “more constructive” path.

NATO is an ‘anachronism’ and at fault for the Ukraine conflict

Putin also took a direct shot at NATO, calling the transatlantic military bloc “an anachronism” that he said serves to incite conflicts rather than foster peace. According to the president, NATO’s expansionist policies were the primary catalyst for the Ukraine conflict. He accused the organization of overstepping its boundaries and creating “security imbalances” that destabilize Eastern Europe.

In Putin’s words, “NATO is no longer a defensive alliance – it needs conflict to justify its existence.” He argued that Western narratives ignore the bloc’s role in escalating the Ukraine conflict, suggesting that Russia’s actions were a necessary response to what he called its aggressive posturing. “They are in need of a constant adversary to function; that’s what keeps NATO alive,” Putin said, reiterating his long-standing position that its role in Eastern Europe fundamentally threatens Russia’s security.

Neoliberalism branded a ‘totalitarian ideology’

Shifting to a broader critique of Western policies, Putin did not hold back in his characterization of neoliberalism.

“[It has] become a totalitarian ideology,” he stated, condemning the economic and political model as one that enforces uniformity in ways he claims stifle national sovereignty and traditional values. Putin’s remarks seemed to be aimed not only at Western governments but also at multinational corporations and international institutions that he sees as embodying this worldview.

In his opinion, neoliberal policies lead to the erosion of individual national cultures and impose “moral frameworks that are foreign to many societies.” He stressed that the system seeks to undermine traditional values, disparaging what he described as Western efforts to dictate moral and political norms around the world. Putin highlighted Russia’s contrasting vision, which he said is based on respect for cultural diversity and non-interference in the domestic affairs of other nations. “There is no room for difference in the neoliberal order,” he argued. “It seeks to flatten diversity rather than celebrate it.”

A call for a ‘multipolar’ world order

In keeping with his criticism of the West, Putin portrayed a vision for a new global order that would transcend what he called its “colonial” mindset. He envisions a multipolar world where no nation feels “disadvantaged” or relegated to a lesser role on the world stage. “In this new world order,” he declared, “there should be no winners and losers.”

In Putin’s view, the Western-dominated unipolar system has exhausted itself, resulting in a model that “only serves a small number of powerful elites.” He elaborated on his call for a more “just and balanced” framework that respects the interests of each nation, as Russia positions itself as a principal advocate for a non-Westernized global order. He noted that countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America support this vision, and he welcomed what he described as “a historical shift” in global power dynamics, citing nations “pushing back against Western hegemony.”

Sanctions have backfired

Putin also took the opportunity to address Western sanctions, arguing that they have ultimately backfired, hurting their promoters as much as, if not more than, Russia. “They thought they could cripple us,” he said, referencing the extensive economic sanctions that followed the launch of the Ukraine military operation in February 2022. “But the reality is different – their economies are feeling the strain, and we’ve adapted.”

Putin suggested that Moscow has not only withstood the economic impact but has seen opportunities for growth as a result. “These sanctions have forced us to look inward, to focus on developing domestic industries,” he stated. According to the president, they have bolstered Russia’s economy by encouraging the nation to invest more in self-sufficient industries and strengthen partnerships with non-Western nations like China and India. “We are resilient,” he added, casting doubt on the West’s expectation that his country would buckle under the weight of attempted economic isolation.

Western civilization ‘not an enemy’ of Russia

While much of Putin’s rhetoric was combative toward the West, he clarified that Russia does not view Western civilization itself as an enemy. “Our problem isn’t with Western culture,” he noted, “but with the aggressive policies of their governments.” Putin stressed that he respects Western culture and values the contributions that those countries have made to human civilization.

Putin’s remarks suggested a differentiation between what he calls the “colonial” and “hegemonic” actions of Western governments and the culture of the bloc as a whole. He emphasized that Russia sees itself as part of the global cultural community, one that values the “great achievements of Western civilization” but resists its political overreach. “We’re not interested in confrontation with the West,” Putin explained, “but we will always defend our sovereignty and our way of life.”

Push for sovereign internet and artificial intelligence

Putin reiterated Russia’s ambition to maintain its digital independence through a sovereign internet and homegrown artificial intelligence. He argued that every nation should have its own control over these resources, framing them as key components of national security. “Relying on foreign technology for our digital infrastructure is a risk we can no longer take,” Putin said.

Russia’s push for internet sovereignty reflects a broader desire to control the information flow within its borders, as well as a reaction to what Putin perceives as Western “data dominance.” The president proposed that AI should also be developed domestically to avoid reliance on potentially hostile nations. “Every country should have its own digital shield, a sovereign internet that reflects its values,” he remarked, adding that AI “must not be monopolized by a few players who impose their will on others.”

RT is ‘resistance’ and Russia’s only way of reaching the West

As one of the final points of his four-hour-long speech and Q&A session, Putin addressed his alleged reluctance to give interviews to Western outlets, noting that this wasn’t true and pointing to his interview with famous US journalist Tucker Carlson earlier this year. He added, however, that he doesn’t particularly want to address the population of countries whose governments censor Russian journalists and outlets.

”Our journalists aren’t being allowed to work,” the Russian president said. “They were shut down, placed under a bunch of restrictions” in both the US and the EU. RT has remained the sole point of “resistance” in the West, he added. “The Anglo-Americans have a worldwide network of media, we don’t. But they still fear that one,” the Russian president said.

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