Vladimir Putin inaugurated as president. Claims that he is open to dialogue with the West.

He will be inaugurated for his fifth presidential term on Tuesday. Vladimir Putin first took over from Boris Yeltsin on New Year’s Eve in 2000. Now he is elected until 2030.

– We do not reject dialogue with the West; the choice lies with them, says Putin in his speech in the Kremlin on Wednesday, according to the state news agency RIA.

– Are they still interested in limiting Russia’s development, continuing a policy of aggression and years of pressure against our country, or will they look for ways to cooperate?

– Talks are possible, including on security issues and strategic stability, but on equal terms and with respect for each other’s interests, Putin continues.

Watch video from the ceremony:

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Kristian Gerner, professor emeritus at Lund University and Russia expert, assesses the statements as follows to VG:

– He says with this that he wants to end the war with the profits he has. Putin realizes that he will not be able to take all of Ukraine, but will remain in the areas the Russians have taken.

– How will the West react to that?

– Putin’s problems are that he has used up all credibility. Western leaders, such as Macron and Biden, do not dare to trust him. They don’t know what Putin can come up with.

– But I interpret this to mean that he is satisfied if he gets to keep Eastern Ukraine and Crimea, which Ukraine has said they will not accept in any way.

– When he talks about “strategic stability” – is it about nuclear weapons?

– Yes, it must be. And it happens only a day or two after Russia announced that they would carry out exercises using tactical nuclear weaponsTactical nuclear weapons are specifically intended for use on the battlefield, in contrast to the larger strategic weapons intended for use against cities and other important strategic targets. (snl.no)..

– So one day Putin raises the threat level, then goes back on it the next day. This is dangerous rhetoric in a tense situation. I see it as a mixture of aggression and an inferiority complex, says Professor Gerner.

According to the state news agency Tass, the nuclear exercise was ordered by Putin in particular, and the aim is to strengthen Russia’s security after several “provocative statements from Western leaders”.

Putin’s speech on Tuesday was otherwise marked by “patriotism” – with this as some of the main points:

• Putin says that great goals can only be achieved together with the people.
• Russia will continue efforts to create one multipolar world orderA way of expressing that he wants to remove US hegemony..
• Putin says he will do everything to justify Russians’ trust.
• Putin believes that today’s Russia is responsible for a thousand years of history.
• Russia’s political system must be resilient to challenges.
• Russia will come through a difficult period with dignity.
• Russia will decide its own destiny.