Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008. He was also the Prime Minister of Russia from 1999 to 2000 and again from 2008 to 2012.
Liz Truss, who is a Conservative MP and serves as both the Foreign Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities, has called for an end to the “ludicrous debates” surrounding “statues and pronouns” in the UK following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking during the Conservative Party Spring Conference at Blackpool Winter Gardens on 19 March, the 46-year-old said the UK should be “proud of its longstanding commitment to freedom and democracy”. “This is what is important, this is what matters,” she added.
Truss stated that she believes the Ukraine-Russia war means it is time to set aside what she referred to as “ludicrous debates”. “Now is the time to end the culture of self-doubt, the constant self-questioning and introspection – the ludicrous debates about languages, statues and pronouns,” she continued. “Our history, warts and all, is what makes us what we are today,” Truss also stated.
She also said that the West has a duty of changing who it relies on to function. “We’re ending our dependency on authoritarian regimes,” Truss added. “The West focused on cheap goods at the expense of freedom and security.