President of Russia Vladimir Putin: (Addressing Dmitry Medvedev.) Mr Medvedev,
Colleagues, friends,
My greetings to all the participants, guests and delegates of the 22nd United Russia congress.
I would like to start with thanking you, all party members, your, our numerous supporters in all the regions for the hard work in the interests of our country’s citizens, for a substantive and meaningful contribution to ensuring security and sovereignty.
The United Russia party has been supporting our troops literally from the first day of the special military operation: it submits important draft laws to create legal and social guarantees for our heroes and their families; assists the recovery of the liberated regions; collects and delivers everything the civilians there need. The party also does much for the veterans who are back from the combat areas, helps them realise themselves in civilian professions, in public and political life.
I want to stress that all parliamentary parties in the country, all of them, are united in their support for everything that is aimed at protecting the people in Donbas and Novorossiya and ensuring firm guarantees for the security of the Fatherland for decades to come.
The United Russia party, as a true leader, is being active where the fate of the country is being decided, together with our Army and Navy, with the teams of defence industry enterprises that work round the clock, with millions of people, who support the front-line soldiers with all their hearts, with volunteers who form all the essentials, deliver thousands of tonnes of humanitarian aid, food, medicines, household appliances, gear and equipment, and bring our victory closer by concrete deeds and personal involvement in volunteer initiatives.
I note once again that many State Duma deputies from the United Russia party, regional and municipal leaders of various levels went to the front to fight for their homeland. This is a courageous and brave step worthy of every respect. Thank you.
I would like to add that today all regions and municipalities of the country provide comprehensive assistance to sponsored towns and districts in the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, to the residents of the Kursk Region and other frontline and border regions of the Federation.
Such mutual support, genuine brotherhood in the face of adversity, and unity in the name of the Fatherland have emerged historically. This is the character of our people. The seemingly very simple word ‘we’ now gets a special, unifying meaning.
“We do not abandon our people” – this principle, a noble call is clear and close to each of us. Because unity, perception of Russia as our home, as a huge family of families, is our great value. It is our tremendous enduring strength, our confidence in today and tomorrow.
I want to say thank you to all those who contribute to the protection of Russia’s national interests both on the frontlines and on the homefront. And I ask the party to continue its active work, to step up efforts in all key areas, especially in supporting all veterans of combat operations, their relatives, particularly families who have lost their loved ones. Closer attention should be paid to those who have returned home after serious injuries.
Courage, bravery, managerial talent, leadership skills of our frontline servicemen tested and hardened in the most difficult conditions, their sincere devotion to the Fatherland and our people, should be extremely helpful in addressing national tasks.
To be continued.