Putin's Victory Day Speech is surprisingly unremarkable

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 10 May 2022 by Alex Teddy
May 9 Russia marked the 77th anniversary of the defeat of Germany. There was a significantly scaled down parade. Putin repeated the message he has been saying for 11 weeks: Ukraine is run by Nazis, and the war was forced on Russia by NATO aggression. He claimed that this war is 1941 all over again; Russia is forced to defend civilization from barbarism. People had conjectured that Putin would say the special military operation is now a war or announce general mobilization. The lack of any mention of any nuclear threats was also good news for the West. Some thought Putin might say the war is over because Russia has gained land in Donbas and South Ukraine. But recent heavy fighting has slowed the Russians and even driven them back a little in some sectors. The conflict appears to be de-escalating. But NATO is rushing weapons into Ukraine. It will be increasingly difficult for Russia to achieve a decisive breakthrough.No foreign leader attended the Victory Day Parade. Usually several foreign heads of state are there. Moscow said none were invited because it is not a round a number this year i.e., the 75th anniversary or 80th anniversary.President Zelensky spoke in Kyiv on May 9. He said 1945 was also Ukraine's victory. 25% of Soviet troops were Ukrainian. Ukrainians civilians suffered proportionately more deaths than Russian civilians. Zelensky said that 1945 should not be misappropriated by Putin to excuse an illegal war of aggression.

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