Vladimir Putin re-elected President of Russia

According to official information posted on the CEC website, after 99.43% of the votes were counted, independent candidate Vladimir Putin won 87.32% of the votes. In second place was the candidate of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) Nikolai Kharitonov, who won 4.32% of the votes. Next was the candidate of the New People Party, Vladislav Davankov, who received 3.79% of the votes, and finally the candidate of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) Leonid Slutsky, who received 3.19% of the votes.

Russian leader's priorities in upcoming presidential term

Speaking at a press conference held at his campaign headquarters in Moscow on the morning of March 18, President Putin expressed his gratitude for the support and trust of all Russian citizens.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has emphasized the priorities of his new term, including the main tasks for the country's development that he outlined in his Federal Message at the end of February. He hopes for a strong, independent, sovereign Russia, and the election results will allow him and the Russian people to achieve all of those goals.

Mr Putin added that the future Russian government would include those currently involved in the special military operation in Ukraine. He would not rush to form a new government because the current term still has more than two months to go. The question is to determine who will be appointed to which positions to achieve maximum effectiveness.

Regarding French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, President Putin said he had no information about the French leader's proposal to declare an Olympic truce during the Paris Olympics. However, Putin affirmed: "We are ready to consider any proposals, but in any case, we will always be guided by our national interests and the situation on the battlefield."

“I have said this before and I will say it again: we support peace talks, but they should not be held just because the enemy is running out of ammunition,” Putin said, noting that the question of who will be Russia’s partner in the final reconciliation talks with Ukraine remains open.

During a press briefing on the morning of March 18, Mr. Putin did not rule out the possibility of a full-scale conflict between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). "I think that everything is possible in the modern world. But I am saying - and everyone knows that, in this case, we will be one step away from a full-scale World War III. However, no one would want such a scenario," the Russian leader said.

Referring to the priorities of the new term, Mr. Putin said that, first of all, Russia needs to complete the goals of the special military campaign, enhance defense capabilities and consolidate the Russian armed forces.

“All the main goals for the country’s development were outlined in the Federal Address. And having the trust of the Russian people, our goal is to make every effort to fulfill all tasks and achieve all the goals we have set… I dreamed of a strong, independent, sovereign Russia. And I hope that the election results will allow us, together with the Russian people, to achieve all these goals,” Putin said.

World leaders congratulate Putin on victory

Following Mr. Putin's overwhelming victory in the presidential election, many Russian and world leaders sent congratulatory messages.

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev wrote on Telegram: “Congratulations to Vladimir Putin on his resounding victory in the Russian presidential election.”

On the morning of March 18, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated Mr. Putin on his re-election. A statement from the Office of the Government of Uzbekistan said: "Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his convincing victory in the presidential election."

The North Korean Central News Agency KCNA also published a congratulatory message from leader Kim Jong Un to Mr. Putin on the same day.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, on behalf of the Venezuelan people, congratulated President Vladimir Putin on his overwhelming victory in re-election and continued to hold the position of President of the Russian Federation for the 2024-2030 term. In addition, the Venezuelan leader also expressed his appreciation for the deep commitment to democracy of the Russian people, demonstrated by their special participation in this successful election.

Meanwhile, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega also praised the results of the Russian presidential election as "a contribution to global stability".

For his part, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla congratulated Mr. Putin on his re-election as President of Russia. “We will continue to strengthen the friendship and solidarity between the people and governments of our two countries,” the congratulatory message stressed.

On social network X, Bolivian President Luis Arce affirmed that Mr. Putin's victory is a sign of the Russian people's unity in their sovereignty and their continuous development./.

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