Russian President Vladimir Putin used a military parade marking the Soviet Union’s triumph over the Nazis during World War II to defend his invasion of Ukraine on Monday, presenting it as a response to Western policy. Despite widespread speculation, Putin did not declare victory in Ukraine or hint at a stronger push on the battlefield there.
“Russia has called on the West to have an honest dialogue, to seek sensible, compromise solutions, to take into account the interests of the other. All in vain. “NATO countries did not want to hear us, which means that they actually had completely different plans,” Putin said. “The danger is growing every day. Russia has resisted aggression as a precaution. It was a forced, timely and the only right decision. The decision of a sovereign, strong, independent state.”
Putin scolded the West for failing to undo NATO’s perceived enlargement and fulfill Russia’s demands for “security guarantees.” He reiterated previous allegations that he had been forced to take military action due to the planning of Western operations in Ukraine’s Donbass region and because Kyiv was advertising its possible acquisition of nuclear weapons.
Russian President Vladimir Putin watches a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, on Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2022. Satellite / Mikhail Metzel / Pool via REUTERS
“The NATO bloc has begun active military development in our adjacent territories. This has systematically posed a threat that is absolutely unacceptable to us, directly at our borders,” Putin said.
“I think he believes in what he wants to believe – a glimmer of despair,” said UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace after Putin’s remarks. “But let me be clear: NATO, Britain, Eastern Europe do not plan to attack Russia and have never done so.
There was less military equipment on display during Victory Day parade than in previous years, which Moscow had previously indicated would be the case. However, many of the weapons systems currently in use in Ukraine were presented, as well as long-range nuclear weapons.
According to the official formation plan published in the military newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda, 131 cars took part in the Red Square parade. By comparison, last year’s parade saw about 190 vehicles, while the 75th anniversary of the end of the so-called Great Patriotic War was almost twice as large with 234 cars on display.
Russian armored personnel carrier BTR-82A and Yars intercontinental ballistic missile systems drive on Red Square during a Victory Day parade marking the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, in central Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2022 YEVGENIA NOVOZHENINA / Reuters
Remarkably absent from this year’s plan to form dozens of weapons directly involved in Ukraine’s enemies, such as the S-1 anti-aircraft complex, the Tornado heavy rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and T-80 tanks.
Open source intelligence analyst Oliver Alexander noted that the armored vehicles used by the Russian National Guard are also missing this year.
“[The vehicles] “They are widely used in the invasion of Ukraine and have suffered heavy losses,” Alexander said in a tweet.
Ukraine says Russia has bombed a school while the barrage continues 03:03
During his speech, Putin observed a minute of silence in honor of Russian victims of his war in Ukraine, promising to offer help to the families of fallen Russian soldiers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered his message on Monday, saying Ukraine itself had won against the Nazis during World War II and would be again.
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Hailey Ott is a digital reporter / producer for CBS News based in London.
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