© Alexey Nikolsky/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS  

Meduza: Putin planning Federal Assembly address for February 21, followed by ‘large-scale concert-rally’ at Luzhniki Stadium on February 22 

Vladimir Putin will give his belated annual address to Russia’s Federal Assembly on or around February 21, and will participate in a large-scale concert and rally event at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium the following day, RBC reported on Friday, citing “three sources familiar with the discussion” of the Kremlin’s plans. According to RBC, the rally is expected to be a “continuation” of Putin’s address. 

A source from Russia’s parliament confirmed to RIA Novosti that a rally event is being planned for February 22, and added that 200,000 people, including Putin, are slated to attend. 

One of RBC’s sources said that Russian authorities want to ensure the address takes place as close as possible to the anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.  

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Update #1: Putin to deliver State of the Nation Address to Federal Assembly on Feb 21 — Kremlin — TASS
 

Update #2: Media from unfriendly countries not invited to Putin’s State of Nation Address — Kremlin — TASS  

WNU Editor: Putin’s State of the Nation address will all be on the Ukraine war, the economy and sanctions, and threats from NATO. But what caught my eye was this report …. Russian parliament to hold extraordinary meetings on Feb 22: RIA (Reuters). 

This tells me that Putin will make a declaration/announcement during the State of the Nation address that parliament will then follow-up on the next day. Needless to say. No one is saying why parliament is being summoned the next day. But there is someone who I trust who told me earlier today that Putin may make a formal declaration of war against Ukraine, and parliament will then follow-up on the next day to make it legal. I hope he is wrong, but we shall know more on February 21.