Russian media abuzz with anticipation of Putin's UN speech, says it will "change the world"

In this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 photo released on Monday, Sept. 28, 2015 by the Kremlin press service, Russian President Vladimir Putin smiles as he listens to a question during an interview with CBS and PBS in Moscow, Russia. (Mikhail Klimentyev/RIA-Novosti, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

Russia's Vladimir Putin waits to begin his address to the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Monday, Sept. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) (The Associated Press)

MOSCOW – Russian media are abuzz with anticipation of President Vladimir Putin's speech at the UN.

Putin is in the United States for the first time since Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and threw its support behind separatist rebels in Ukraine. What is more, Russia's recent military buildup in Syria has raised concern in the West about Putin's future steps there.

A state-owned news channel has run a countdown to the opening of the UN General Assembly on its screen all day Monday. Another Russian television channel said Monday that Putin is "preparing a speech that will change the world."

Putin's interference in Ukraine and his attempts to carve out a role in Syria have been seen as an attempt to distract Russians from the country's flagging economy.