Russian President Vladimir Putin today thanked the Russians who came out to vote, saying that the result of the presidential elections will allow Russian society to consolidate and strengthen, reports Reuters.
Putin spoke at his campaign headquarters late tonight after results showed he had won a record victory in Russia's post-Soviet presidential election.
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Putin said Russia's priority must be solving tasks related to what he calls Moscow's "special military operation" in Ukraine and strengthening the military.
He said that he will do everything he can to solve those tasks and goals that he and his administration consider a priority.
He said that the Russian armed forces are advancing in Ukraine every day and that the Moscow forces are holding the initiative on the battlefield.
Regarding the total conflict with NATO, if Western troops were to find themselves in Ukraine, Putin said: "Everything is possible in the modern world," reported Reuters.
"I don't think anyone is interested in this. France could play a role in a peaceful solution in Ukraine," said the Russian president.
Putin said Russia would have to consider who it could talk to about the possibility of peace in Ukraine, suggesting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not an option, according to Reuters.
Putin said the presence of Western troops in Ukraine could bring the world to the brink of World War III, but said he did not think anyone was interested in such a scenario.
Putin also criticized the political system of the United States of America (US) and what he called politically motivated cases, saying that the whole world is laughing at Washington.
He said that the opposition election protest against him organized by the opposition had no effect, but that people who prevented others from voting with acts of vandalism should be punished.
Supporters of the late Alexei Navalny have called on Russians to turn out at polling stations in the "Noon Against Putin" protest to show their opposition to the leader they describe as a corrupt autocrat.
Navalny died in mid-February in a prison in the Russian Arctic circle.
Putin said that before Navalny's death, he agreed to a prisoner exchange in which Navalny would also participate and said that it is sad when someone dies.
Putin said the main condition for the exchange was that Navalny not return to Russia.
Navalny was Putin's fiercest domestic opponent. His allies accuse Putin of killing him, which the Kremlin denies.
Putin said that there is no democracy in the West, including the USA.
He praised China for its success on the world stage, predicting that Russia-China relations will become stronger in the coming years.
He also said that Russia is ready for talks on the French proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine during the Olympic Games, but that it will have to take into account Russia's interests on the front line.
Montenegro also voted for the president of Russia.
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