MOSCOW, Jan 19 (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin will deliver his annual state of the nation address on Wednesday, the Kremlin said on Sunday. Putin’s speech to parliament and top officials will be closely watched for signals on domestic and foreign policy, as the West weighs new sanctions on Russia in response to a military build-up near Ukraine. The address will start at 12:00 p.m. (0900 GMT) on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. It will be Putin’s first state of the nation address since April 2021, when he outlined plans to boost Russia’s economic growth and living standards. Since then, Russia has faced a new wave of Western sanctions over the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and a crackdown on dissent. Tensions have also risen sharply with the West over Ukraine, with the United States and its allies accusing Russia of massing troops on the border in preparation for a possible invasion. Russia denies planning to invade Ukraine and says it is free to deploy its troops on its own territory. Putin has previously said that Russia will take unspecified .
Putin to Deliver State of the Nation Address Wednesday
