Putin Secures Backing for Independent Run in 2024 Presidential Election

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his first campaign speech before running for president again in March, vowed to make Russia a "sovereign, self-sufficient" power in the face of the West. Putin, who has been in power since 2000, is expected to win the election with no real opposition, extending his rule until at least 2030. He emphasized the importance of sovereignty and criticized the West for attempting to sow internal troubles in Russia. All of Putin's political opponents are either in jail or in exile, and Moscow has banned criticism of its Ukraine campaign.