Putin has promised to use his new term to beef up Russia’s defences against the West and to raise living standards. In a victory speech near Red Square, Putin told a cheering crowd he interpreted the win as a vote of confidence in what he had achieved in tough conditions. None of the seven candidates who ran against Putin posed a threat, and opposition leader Alexei Navalny was barred from running. The result was a vindication of his tough stance towards the West, Putin loyalists said. Asked after his re-election if he would run for yet another term in office, Putin laughed off the idea.

Source: Egypt Independent March 18, 2018 21:45 UTC