Final answer:
President Vladimir Putin identified the high social costs of the post-Soviet transition and widespread corruption as the greatest threats facing Russia in his first inaugural address in March 2000.
Step-by-step explanation:
In his first inaugural address in March 2000, President Vladimir Putin identified the greatest threat facing the nation as the high social costs of the post-Soviet transition and the need to strengthen the power of the central state. During the early post-Soviet years, Russia experienced democratization and rapid privatization coupled with the unraveling of the social safety net.
The shift to capitalism restructured the Russian economy, and while Russia achieved substantial economic growth after 2000, significant poverty and social problems persisted among much of its population. Furthermore, corruption had become widespread and was a pressing concern that needed to be addressed to solidify the nation's future.