The article analyzes a recent interview with Vladimir Putin shown on Russian state television, focusing on its propagandistic nature. The interview depicts Putin's rule as a series of successes defending Russia against external threats and internal decay, largely blaming the West.
The interview frames Russian history through a lens of defending Russia's sovereignty from Western aggression, portraying past events such as the Chechen wars and the current war in Ukraine within this narrative. The conflict in Ukraine is presented as a defensive action against NATO expansionism, with minimal mention of Ukraine's own agency or aspirations.
The interview normalizes war as an integral part of Russian reality, showing it not as a tragedy but as a natural state and a tool for national growth. It utilizes demographic claims – including the disputed inclusion of Ukrainian territories - to showcase strength and expansion, despite Russia's actual demographic struggles.
Putin expresses confidence in his decisions and a belief in Russia's inevitable victory in Ukraine. The interview also emphasizes Russia's strengthened relationships with countries outside the West, particularly within the BRICS group.
The interview utilizes various techniques to convey Putin's image, including carefully staged scenes and historical parallels drawn with past Russian leaders. The use of the word "kliukva" (cranberry), which also implies nonsense in Russian slang, becomes a self-aware commentary on the interview's own unreliability.
The conclusion highlights that “Putin's declaration that 'the borders of Russia know no end' serves as both a stark reminder of Russia's ambitions and a summary of the interview's propagandistic content.