All the previous days analysts and the Western media presented a multitude of assessments of the messages Vladimir Putin can send to the West and Kyiv during his speech on Victory Day and while the Russian troops would paralyze in front of him.
None of these predictions were confirmed. Not for a “declaration of war” in Ukraine, not for a declaration of general mobilization, not for direct threats in the West and, of course, not for the end of the “special military operation”.
On the contrary, Putin delivered perhaps one of his shortest speeches, very restrained, rather focused on his inner audience, and – as many analysts already note – did not open his papers at all on the Kremlin's next steps in terms of According to the BBC, in a related analysis of Putin's speech, despite the expected link between the current war and the fight against Nazism in World War II, he did not make any revelations about his future. intentions regarding Ukraine.
“No mention of further mobilization. No declaration of victory against Ukraine. He referred to casualties, but did not change the terminology he used: “The invasion remains a special military operation, not a war.” forcing them to engage in a game of speculation about his subsequent moves, or does not reporting details of the course of operations reflect the retreat of Russian forces on the battlefield?
Undoubtedly, the Russian army has achieved success, it has gained territory, it has caused huge damage in Ukraine. At the same time, however, given the scale of the invasion, operations have failed miserably at Russia's main goal: defeating Ukraine and overthrowing its leadership.
Equally interesting is the observation that a word that everyone was waiting to hear was missing from Putin's speech: the word “Mariupol.” The city, which is of great strategic importance to Russia, where the fiercest fighting and leveling bombardment took place, is now under the control of Moscow and Russian-speakers, with the exception of the Azovstal plant, where Ukrainian Azov fighters refuse to surrender. And yet Putin did not say a word. He did not even mention the name of the city.
It is noted that the occupation of Mariupol allows Russia to build a land bridge between the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, parts of which were controlled by Russian-speaking separatists and gives it control of the entire Azov Sea as well as part of the Black Sea controlled by the Black Sea. Surprisingly, Putin did not use his familiar phrase “special military operation” to describe Russia's attack. Not even the word “war.”
Even if Putin was restrained in his statements, he certainly conveyed his message to the West with the military parade.
Although this is a very, very limited demonstration of Russia's military power, as the authorities in Moscow had already predicted due to the deployment of manpower and military equipment in the war in Ukraine, many of the weapons systems currently operating on the front represented: from self-propelled artillery to ballistic missiles and heavy armor.
Troops from all major branches of the Russian army were represented, including combat vehicles and soldiers from the VDV & # 8211; Russian paratroopers were at the forefront of its offensive in Ukraine.
Long-range nuclear missiles also appeared in Red Square. A strong reminder of Russia's vast nuclear arsenal, which has often been referred to as a threat by Russian officials.
Finally, in addition to being surprised by what Putin did not say, as Katarzyna Zisk, a Russian military expert, told the BBC, he was not surprised that he followed the most awaited “path” in his speech linking the current war in Ukraine with the Second World War. World War II, “glorifying the Soviet past and exploiting the Soviet nostalgia that is so prevalent in Russia and has been fueled by the Russian authorities.” He spoke in support of the US Alliance, but said that maintaining some independence was not the answer. The 1990s were a mistake for the West.
“It puts Russia in this role of victim & # 8230; This is also to justify and give some meaning to this war.” p> This goes What surprised her was that Putin also did not refer to pro-Western traitors in Russia to make anyone questioning the war a scapegoat.
huffingtonpost.gr
