18:55
I like how Putin clarified that Soviet Ukrainianization and indigenization of other areas of the USSR was not a bad policy in principle, makes it seem less anti-communist than his February 24, 2022 speech where he just says Lenin created Ukraine. This time he's close to the Russian leftist view, that it was the nationalists that divided Russia and the Soviets reunited and stabilized the country.
I've only seen snippets for now, haven't found the time to watch the whole clownshow, but where in heck are you seeing even a hint of "leftism" anywhere in that? It's just a continued shitting on USSR, on Lenin and hints of nationalism
He said that it was a good idea in principle to promote the indigenous languages and culture of the Soviet Republics (Ukrainianization) around 18:55. Im not saying he's a leftist, just that he's abandoned the vocal anti-communism.
KPRF critiqued his speech of February 2022 saying that it was Lenin who united the territories of the empire which were divided by local nationalists. What he said is similar and clarifies whether he believes Lenin made a mistake in shaping Ukraine vs just how things played out in the long run.
He said this time that the Soviet Union lived as a unified state with harmony between Russians and Ukrainians and the fault lied to the governments of Yeltsin, Gorbachev and himself for tearing off Ukraine from this shared space.
He's somewhat right about Lenin though, Lenin pushed very hard for Ukraine, way harder than for any other nation in Russia. His reasons were acceptable at the point, but it backfired hard after 1991.