Putin, who has been in power for over two decades, expressed gratitude to Russia's soldiers in Ukraine and declared his re-election as proof of national unity.

He emphasized the importance of defending Russia's choices, values, and national interests.

The ceremony was boycotted by the United States and many of its allies.

Putin, at 71, continues to dominate Russia's political landscape with opposition figures in prison or exile, including the late Alexei Navalny.

Navalny's wife urged supporters to keep opposing Putin, expressing concern about worsening conditions under his rule.

Internationally, Putin is in conflict with Western countries over Ukraine, but he did not rule out dialogue on nuclear weapons.

He urged the West to choose between continuing hostility or seeking cooperation and peace.

Last week, the US top intelligence official stated that Putin sees favorable domestic and international developments in Ukraine's conflict and the war is unlikely to end soon.

The outcome of the US presidential election in November may influence Putin's decisions on pressing the war and its terms.

Ukraine requires a full troop withdrawal for peace.

Putin, who has been in power since 1999, is set to surpass Soviet leader Stalin and become Russia's longest-serving ruler if he completes a new term.

In the given text, Vladimir Putin was re-elected as the President of Russia with a large margin in an election that was tightly controlled and two anti-war candidates were barred on technical grounds.

The opposition labeled the election a sham, and several countries including the United States, Britain, Canada, and most EU nations decided to boycott Putin's swearing-in ceremony.

France announced it would send its ambassador.

Ukraine criticized the event, stating it aimed to create an illusion of legality for Putin's nearly lifelong rule, which transformed Russia into an aggressor state and a dictatorship.

Sergei Chemezov, a Putin ally, defended Putin, arguing that he brought stability, a point even his critics should acknowledge.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin views the current state of Russia's relations with the United States and its allies as a continuation of Russia's path towards stability, despite nuclear tensions reaching their lowest point since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

The West has provided military support to Ukraine, but NATO troops have not directly joined the conflict.

Russia responded to perceived threats from France, Britain, and the United States by announcing plans to practice the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons during a military exercise.

Putin will need to decide whether to renew or replace the last remaining treaty limiting Russian and US strategic nuclear warheads during his new term.

The New START nuclear arms control treaty between Russia and the United States is set to expire in 2026.

Following the start of a new presidential term, the Russian government resigned as required by the constitution.

However, Putin has ordered the old government to stay in power temporarily while he appoints a new one, which is expected to include many of the same individuals.