# Munich speech (2007)

URL: https://history-russia.com/timeline/2007-munich-speech
Categories: main-event

At the Munich Security Conference Putin sharply criticised the United States, NATO enlargement and a 'unipolar' world order. Boris Yeltsin died on 23 April 2007, and Sochi won the 2014 Winter Olympics in July. The speech is widely seen as a turning point in Russia's foreign policy. It signalled Russia's open challenge to the post-Cold War order.

## Why it matters
It signalled Russia's open challenge to the post-Cold War order.

Ruler at the time: [Vladimir Putin](https://history-russia.com/rulers/vladimir-putin-2000)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — 2007 Munich speech of Vladimir Putin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Munich_speech_of_Vladimir_Putin)
- [Wikipedia — Boris Yeltsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Yeltsin)
- [Wikipedia — History of the Russian Federation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Russian_Federation)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Munich speech](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Munich+speech)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of Russian history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Russian_history)