Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin claims he could work with West - as he gives brief speech for fifth inauguration (2024)

The widow of former Putin critic Alexei Navalny has criticised President Vladimir Putin on the day of his fifth inauguration as Russian leader.

In a video posted on YouTube shortly before the ceremony took place in Moscow, Yulia Navalnaya called Mr Putin a liar, a thief and a murderer.

She added that the war in Ukraine is "bloody and senseless" and no one wants it apart from the Russian leader.

"Huge sums of money are stolen from all of us every day to fund bombings of peaceful cities, riot police beating people with batons, propagandists spreading lies. And also for [the elite's] own palaces, yachts and private jets," she said.

"And as long as this continues, we can't stop the fight."

Having been exiled from Russia, Ms Navalnaya has vowed to continue the work of her late husband, who died in an Arctic penal colony on 16 February.

She has accused Mr Putin of having him killed, an accusation which the Kremlin has always denied.

By Ivor Bennett, Moscow correspondent

The speech was vintage Putin.

Talking up Russia's greatness, blaming the West for Moscow's isolation and doubling down on his current path.

If there was any hope of him mellowing in this next term of office, President Putin dispelled that right at the beginning, referring to the security of the Russian people as a matter "above all".

Translation - we're in the confrontation with the West for the long haul.

But whose fault is it?

Not ours, he said.

All part of the Kremlin's narrative to portray Russia as the victim.

What might concern Western officials is the tone of the speech, especially the last line: "We will realise everything we have planned, together we will win."

With things going his way at home and on the battlefield, the Russian president appears increasingly confident, and increasingly defiant.

The inauguration of Vladimir Putin has just wrapped up in Moscow.

The ceremony involved the 71-year-old being sworn in by placing his hand on a version of the Russian constitution.

He then oversaw a parade of the Presidential Regiment on Cathedral Square.

His presidency was later blessed by the Patriarch Kirill of Moscow - the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Within the last hour, Vladimir Putin has officially been sworn in as Russian president.

The inauguration was held at theGrand Kremlin Palace, during which Mr Putin placed his hand on the Russian Constitution and vowed to defend it.

As the longest-serving Kremlin leader since Stalin, Mr Putin's new term does not expire until 2030, when he will be constitutionally eligible to run again.

Watch the moment Mr Putin was sworn in for this third consecutive term in office below.

As Vladimir Putin begins his fifth term as Russian president, our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn shares his thoughts...

"Having rigged yet another election, subverted the Russian constitution, destroyed the free press and either killed or locked up any opposition, Vladimir Putin today used all the trappings of Russian pomp and ceremony to try and cloak himself in a mantle of false legitimacy," he says.

"Putin has taken a country that was emerging from communism and economic collapse towards reform and reintegration into the international community, and he's turned it in a pariah state threatening global security while he and his kleptocracy have stolen billions," he says.

Waghorn then moves to the president's actual address.

"In his inauguration speech, Putin said Russia stands united," he says.

"An estimated 900,000 Russians have voted with their feet and left the country since his invasion of Ukraine."

Vladimir Putin has met with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Pictured placing a candle at the altar, the Russian leader made the sign of the cross on his chest before listening to the ceremony.

Patriarch Kirill appeared to read a passage from the Bible in what symbolises the church backing the presidency.

Vladimir Putin now heads outside, facing troops from the Russian army, who salute and congratulate him on his new term.

He in turn congratulates the troops of the presidential regiment on the 88th anniversary of its formation, before they begin a walk past in full ceremonial dress.

Infantry and mounted units all salute the president as they go past.

Mr Putin watches on silently.

An artillery salute has just marked the end of the official presidential inauguration.

The Russian leader made a short speech at the Grand Kremlin Palace during which he thanked the citizens of Russia and the troops fighting in Ukraine.

He left the palace as the Russian national anthem played and a round of applause erupted from the chosen dignitaries in the audience.

OurMoscow correspondent Ivor Bennettsays the content of President Putin's speech was to be expected.

"He talked about Russia's greatness, about how the West is the aggressor and that everything needs to be on equal footing," Bennett says.

The freshly inaugurated president draws his speech to a close: "I will do everything possible, everything within my abilities to justify your trust.

"We are a single and great nation and together we will overcome all obstacles and implement and realise everything that we dream of.

"Together we will win."

He concludes his speech to rapturous applause, a gun salute and rousing music.

Taking aim at the West, Vladimir Putin says Moscow is not refusing a dialogue with Western countries.

He says Russia is ready to become an "honest" partner with anybody who is willing.

"We are not even refusing the dialogue with Western countries," he said during his inauguration speech in Moscow.

"We will see if they continue to halt the development of our country and continue to put pressure on our country, or look for ways to cooperate with us."