The Russian President today defended the need to “strengthen the internal political situation and the soundness of the Russian state, despite the difficulties and threats”, when the elections in which he seeks to revalidate the constitutional majority are two weeks away.
© Vyacheslav PROKOFYEV / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
05/09/2026
by
Lusa
“ We must strengthen the internal political situation, the soundness of the Russian state and, despite all the difficulties and threats we have continually received, follow the path of strengthening Russia in accordance with the Constitution,” Vladimir Putin said, in a meeting with the leaders of the Kremlin United Russia party list.
The Russian leader stressed in particular the importance of supporting the men currently fighting in Ukraine and defending the national territory against attacks by Ukrainian drones, for which he will ask the Ministry of Defence to study the experience of the Kursk border region.
Putin wished Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin luck; foreign minister Sergei Lavrov; child advocate Maria Lvova-Belova; journalist Yevgeny Poddubny and head of patriotic youth organization Vladislav Golovin.
Putin has today scheduled a meeting at the Kremlin with White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in an attempt to revive the peace negotiations in Ukraine, according to President Donald Trump.
According to the latest surveys of the Levada Center, 59% of Russians advocate an early start of a peace process, while 31% advocate the continuation of military actions.
Due to the fatigue of the war, the blockade of the internet and the fuel deficit, Putin's popularity has fallen in recent months by more than 13 points, similar to that suffered after the controversial pension reform of 2018.
Putin, who was reelected in 2024 with more than 87% of the votes, leads the party’s campaign, whose slogan is ‘All for Victory’, for the first time since 2007.
United Russia has recovered ground in recent weeks, according to polls on voting intentions – about 35% – although independent media claim that just over 20% of Russians intend to vote in power on September 20.
The Russian judiciary excluded the only party supporting peace in Ukraine, Yabloko, from elections to the Duma or Chamber of Members by party lists, while rejecting the registration of its candidates by circumscriptions in several regions of the country.
On Friday, two leaders of this party were arrested in Moscow.