SLL doesn’t generally publish politicians’ speeches, but sometimes Vladimir Putin has things to say to which attention should be paid. From Vladimir Putin at russia-briefing.com:
“Love is impossible if it is declared only by one side. It must be mutual.”
- Highly Critical of US Social Media and Big Tech
- “Russia & Europe” belong together
- Warns of World Approaching Unsettling Political Future
The Russian President Vladimir Putin made a Keynote Address at the World Economic Forum yesterday, criticizing the growing influence of U.S. social media companies saying that their impact on society now puts them in competition with elected governments.
Putin’s virtual address, was his first to the WEF since 2009. The full transcription is as follows:
Introduction By World Economic Forum Founder Klaus Schwab:
Mr. President, welcome to the Davos Agenda Week.
Russia is an important global power, and there’s a long-standing tradition of Russia’s participation in the World Economic Forum. At this moment in history, where the world has a unique and short window of opportunity to move from an age of confrontation to an age of cooperation, the ability to hear your voice, the voice of the President of the Russian Federation, is essential. Even and especially in times characterized by differences, disputes and protests, constructive and honest dialogue to address our common challenges is better than isolation and polarization.
Yesterday, your phone exchange with President Biden and the agreement to extend the New START nuclear arms treaty in principle, I think, was a very promising sign in this direction.
COVID-19, Mr President, has shown our global vulnerability and interconnectivity, and, like any other country, Russia will certainly also be affected, and your economic development and prospects for international cooperation, of course, are of interest to all of us.
Mr. President, we are keen to hear from your perspective and from that of Russia, how you see the situation developing in the third decade of the 21st century and what should be done to ensure that people everywhere find peace and prosperity.
Mr. President, the world is waiting to hear from you.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin:
“Mr. Schwab, dear Klaus, Colleagues,
I have been to Davos many times, attending the events organized by Mr. Schwab, even back in the 1990s. Klaus just recalled that we met in 1992. Indeed, during my time in St Petersburg, I visited this important forum many times. I would like to thank you for this opportunity today to convey my point of view to the expert community that gathers at this world-renowned platform thanks to the efforts of Mr. Schwab.
First of all, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to greet all the World Economic Forum participants.
STRAIGHT LINE LOGIC 