Thread by @AFP

#BREAKING Putin begins state of the nation address

#UPDATE Russian President Vladimir Putin began his state of the nation address on Tuesday, ahead of the first anniversary of Moscow's offensive in Ukraine.

#UPDATE Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday vowed to "systematically" press on with Moscow's offensive in Ukraine, as he gave his state of the nation address.

#UPDATE Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday blamed the West for the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, after Kyiv's allies promised to send new weapons to Ukraine.

#UPDATE President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday accused the West of wanting "to be done with" Russia, as he gave his state of the nation address.

Map showing the situation in Ukraine, as of February 21 at 0800 GMT
#AFPgraphics @AFP

#UPDATE A top US official on Tuesday described President Vladimir Putin’s accusations that Russia had been threatened by the West as justification for invading Ukraine as "absurdity".
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#UPDATE President Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday Moscow's suspension of its participation in the last remaining arms control treaty between the world's two main nuclear powers, Russia and the United States.

#UPDATE Kyiv has vowed to "kick out" and "punish" Russia, just after President Vladimir Putin delivered a state of the nation address.

#UPDATE President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday suspended Moscow's participation in a nuclear arms reduction treaty with Washington during a speech in which he accused the West of escalating the Ukraine conflict.
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#BREAKING UK urges Putin to reconsider 'rash decision' to suspend Russia's participation in nuclear arms treaty