"Together, we will overcome." By devoting the first and last words of his inaugural speech to war, Vladimir Putin, on Tuesday, May 7, firmly set the theme of his new term – his fifth – in the Kremlin: confrontation. Not with Ukraine – too insignificant to even mention – but with a West whose "policy of aggression" will not prevent Russia from becoming "even stronger."

From the very first seconds of his speech, Putin, who was re-elected on March 17 with (officially) 87.28% of the vote, saluted the "heroes participating in the 'special military operation'," some of whom were present among the 3,500 or so guests, which also included members of the elite reunited under the gilding of the presidential palace, as well as ambassadors from foreign countries, including France. Just as quickly, he mentioned "the residents of our historical lands who defended the right to be together with the Motherland," in reference to the Ukrainian regions annexed by force in March 2014 and September 2022.

Although this precisely and fastidiously organized ceremony left little room for improvisation, there have been some notable developments. During his first terms in office, Putin made a point of mentioning the country's democratic development and its citizens' rights, with his hand on the Constitution; however, these phrases disappeared after 2012, a year marked by massive protests over alleged electoral fraud.

Instead, on Tuesday, Putin chose to highlight "defending the interests and security of the Russian people" as a priority, seeing this mission as "a sacred duty" – he then attended a mass during which the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill called him, before correcting himself, "Your Majesty" (or "Your Grandeur," in a more modest translation). True to his unwavering line on guaranteeing the Russian people a form of normality in everyday life, the president did not forget to mention "development" projects and "quality of life for families."

For the first time, the ceremony was broadcast by almost all local TV channels – including sports and entertainment channels, with laudatory comments from the hosts.

"We look to the future with confidence," insisted Putin, while the domestic and foreign situation seem to vindicate these optimistic assurances: on the Ukrainian front, his army is making progress, albeit slowly and at the cost of heavy losses; his defense industry is firing on all cylinders, supported by China, to the point of overheating the Russian economy; the elite and society as a whole are showing if not cohesion, at least loyalty; the opposition is stifled, its leaders dead or in prison.

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