Thread by @SamRamani2

Dmitry Medvedev just announced the death of the unipolar world order and clarified Russia's conditions for nuclear weapons use. Some details and context /1

Medvedev claimed Russia's war with Ukraine had killed the unipolar order, and hailed the strength of the emerging Russia-China-India bloc

This decision mirrored his rhetoric as president during the 2008 Georgian War, which he viewed as a step towards multipolarity /2

Medvedev also decried Russia-West tensions as worse than the Cold War

Medvedev noted that the US did not try to impose individual sanctions on Soviet leaders, such as Leonid Brezhnev, and that avenues for dialogue were even more narrow /3

Despite this, Medvedev appeared to decry Russia's expulsion from Europe, claiming that anti-Russian EU countries do not have a "monopoly on Europeanness"

Medvedev hinted earlier that Russia might restore the death penalty now that it was out of the Council of Europe /4

Medvedev stated 2 conditions for a nuclear strike: an attack on Russia or an attack that paralyzed Russia's nuclear infrastructure

Given the "existential threat" narratives emanating from others in the Kremlin, this might not reassure many /5

Medvedev predicted the 1998 ruble crisis would not happen again as Russia learnt from the 2008 crisis

Medvedev reassured investors that Western companies would not be nationalized, and said Western companies privately discussed returning to Russia's market /6

Medvedev also praised public support for the war in Ukraine, claiming it topped 75% and Putin's approval rating was higher

Medvedev also stated that Russian businesses and by implication, oligarchs, could not moderate or change Putin's direction on the war /7

Medvedev's message is that Russia is not isolated. Instead, it has expedited a multipolar order to respond to US aggression and European exclusion.

This message has resonated before in Russia and might do so again, in spite of mounting economic costs /end