After more than two months of war in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has his eyes set on May 9.
This primordial date in the Russian collective imagination is the celebration of Victory Day.
"A very big party in Russia" which marks the Russian victory over Nazi Germany and "the end of a lot of suffering", comments General Dominique Trinquand.
Military parade, fireworks, aerial parade… Strongly attached to this patriotic date, the Russians always celebrate this annual festival with great fanfare.
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This year, Vladimir Putin, who justifies the Russian invasion in Ukraine by his desire to "denazify" the country, must "bring back a victory", even a small one, to celebrate in Red Square.
"He cannot hold a speech of defeat that day," said Dominique Trinquand.
“His speech will depend on the victory obtained by the Russians.
Mariupol will probably fall, on the other hand, the conquest of Donbass is less certain by then”, continues the former head of the French military mission to the UN.
The closer May 9 approaches, the more we must expect "very violent offensives from the Russians to try to obtain this victory".
Watch General Trinquand's analysis on video.
