The Russian President’s speech did not announce any wider mobilization of Russian forces or escalation of its invasion of Ukraine, as some observers had predicted.
Russian President Vladimir Putin in his Victory Day speech on Monday attempted to draw parallels between the Russian ongoing invasion of Ukraine and the Soviet Union’s fight against Nazi Germany but did not make any declarations of victory or announcements about mass mobilization for the war contrary to some Western predictions. Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a speech during the Victory Day military parade at Red Square in central Moscow. Putin pledged support for the families of the Russian soldiers who have been killed in the conflict and even called for a minute of silence for them during his speech. The Victory Day military parade followed the speech and featured several soldiers, tanks and other armored vehicles but a planned flyover of military jets did not take place purportedly due to bad weather. And someone will not have even one left.”Further ReadingPutin defends his Ukraine invasion, invoking World War II, but does not signal an escalation (New York Times)Putin channels victory over Hitler to spur Russian army in Ukraine (Reuters)