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Putin to give state-of-the-nation address

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to give his annual state-of-the-nation speech to parliament against the backdrop of a struggling national economy and renewed tensions with the West.

Putin was expected on Wednesday to offer assurances to a populace that for several years has endured economic hardships brought about by relatively low prices for Russian commodities and tit-for-tat sanctions.

The speech, to both houses of Russia's parliament, was scheduled to begin at noon Moscow time, with more than 700 journalists to attend.

During last year's speech, Putin announced several new weapons, including an intercontinental ballistic missile that he described as impervious to foreign defence systems.

Putin, who was running for his fourth term as president at the time, used much of the two-hour speech to bolster his campaign platform. Putin went on to win the election with three-quarters of the votes.