Vladimir Putin “continues to deceive his own nation and tries to continue to deceive the international public, if there is still anyone who listens to him,” Commission foreign affairs spokesman Peter Stano said when asked about the Russian president’s speech and threats to use nuclear weapons.

He noted that Putin’s speech is part of Putin’s bid for re-election as well as another example of his many attempts to deflect responsibility for the war that started in Ukraine.

“It was another opportunity for him to channel the all too familiar lies,” Peter Stano said, stressing that “he started the war against Ukraine, he is responsible for all the consequences, internally in Russia, regionally in Ukraine, but also on the world stage.”

Peter Stano was also asked about the appeal of Transnistrian representatives to Russia for protection from Moldovan pressure. As he said, the European Commission is following developments in Moldova very closely.

“We believe that stability in this region is in the interest first and foremost of the citizens on both sides of the Dniester River and in this context we encourage both sides to engage in a constructive dialogue,” he said.

He added that there is constant communication with the Moldovan government and authorities and that there is confidence that they will do their utmost to handle the current situation.

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“The EU continues to support a peaceful and comprehensive resolution of the conflict around Transnistria, which we are approaching on the basis of respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova,” Peter Stano concluded.

Putin’s speech with threats of nuclear holocaust

Earlier, President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual State of the Nation address before the Russian parliament in the wake of the death of Alexei Navalny, which Western countries blame on the Kremlin.

Putin began his speech at 12:13 local time (11:13 GMT). In it, he laid out the outline of Russia’s policy strategy for the coming years, about two weeks before the presidential election in which he is widely expected to be re-elected, remaining in the Kremlin until 2030.

According to Sky News, at the start of his speech Putin focused on two main themes: his claim that the West wants to destroy Russia and his belief that the Russian people and Russian businesses fervently support the “special military operation” in Ukraine.

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