‘Together we will win’: Putin sworn in as Russia’s president
Al JazeeraThe United States and most European Union countries boycotted the inauguration ceremony at the Grand Kremlin Palace. Vladimir Putin swore the oath of allegiance to the Russian Constitution at his inauguration for a record fifth term as president, and as he further tightened his grip on power said the country would emerge victorious and stronger from the current “difficult” period. US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters, “We certainly did not consider that election free and fair but he is the president of Russia and he is going to continue in that capacity.” The ceremony took place a day after Russia announced plans for a tactical nuclear weapons drill, blaming what it said were “provocative” moves by Western countries over Ukraine, which Russia invaded more than two years ago. Ukraine said it saw no legal grounds for recognising him as the “democratically elected and legitimate president of the Russian Federation”. Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the swearing-in ceremony sought to create “the illusion of legality for the nearly lifelong stay in power of a person who has turned the Russian Federation into an aggressor state and the ruling regime into a dictatorship”.