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Russia 2018: Kremlin Countdown

Updated

A tip sheet on Russia's March 18 presidential election delivering RFE/RL and Current Time TV news, videos, and analysis along with links to what our Russia team is watching. Compiled by RFE/RL correspondents and editors.

Putin's Full Remarks

We live-blogged the Putin address (see entries below) and soon we'll be providing an annotated transcript of the speech.

In the meantime, here's Current Time TV's video stream of the full 1-hour, 58-minute Putin speech. (This takes you to the beginning of the defense portion of the speech, but you can drag to any part of the address.)

Grudinin Walks Out Of Second Debate

One day after the first debate among Putin's presidential challengers descended into chaos when Zhirinovsky called Sobchak a "whore" and Sobchak doused Zhirinovsky with a glass of water, the second debate featured the Communist candidate storming off the stage.

Wrap-up so far from our newsroom of Putin's state-of-the-nation speech today, which we live-blogged in this space earlier today.

Putin: Russia Has Developed Missiles To Evade Antimissile Systems

By RFE/RL

Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country has developed and successfully tested new nuclear weapons, including a nuclear-powered cruise missile and a nuclear-powered underwater drone, that would be immune, the Russian leader claimed, to enemy intercept.

In his annual address in Moscow on March 1, Putin said that the newly developed intercontinental ballistic missile Sarmat had an unlimited range and was capable of penetrating any antimissile system.

Using graphics and video, Putin said a new deep-water missile could be launched from submarines and target both aircraft carriers and coastal facilities and, he claimed, be impossible to track.

Putin said that a new strategic aircraft armed with cruise missiles had been successfully tested and was now in production.

CONTINUE READING

Kremlin transcripts of Putin's speech gradually emerging, in Russian and in English.

Says Russia and Russians must be bold and take the initiative. Says the next decade will be "a time of our victories." All stand as the national anthem plays. Speech over.

Says the world is going through a transitional period, but Russia will continue to move on its own unique path. Praises Russian unity, strength, knowledge, and talent.

Praises development of the Eurasian Union.

Praises Russia's close relations with China and India, Russia's role in international organizations like the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, etc.

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