By Yuliya TalmazanNBC
News
Russian President Vladimir Putin tried to justify his war in Ukraine on Monday, blaming the West and linking the conflict to World War II, but without announcing any escalation despite fears from his neighbor and its allies.
In a speech at the Victory Day parade in Moscow to celebrate the Soviet Union's triumph over Nazi Germany, Putin framed the ongoing military campaign as a continuation of that historic struggle.
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Addressing the Russian troops, thousands of them gathered in Red Square for the annual display of military might, Putin told them they were "fighting for the motherland, for their future, so that no one forgets the lessons of World War II."
The Russian leader presented his invasion as a forced intervention to prevent US and NATO aggression, repeating his false claim that Ukraine is run by Western-controlled Nazis.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier following the military parade marking the 77th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Moscow, Russia, on Monday. May 2022. Anton Novoderezhkin/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool via AP
But while Putin repeated his familiar accusations against Moscow's rivals, he offered no sign of an impending escalation.
The Russian leader's speech was watched nervously by observers in Europe and Washington, who for weeks expressed concern about what he might announce.
Finally, the long-awaited speech was over in a matter of minutes, with no shift to broader national mobilization or a declaration of any kind of victory.
Strong Ukrainian resistance and growing military support from allies, as well as failures by Russian forces, have left Putin with little to show for the war after more than two months.
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He has made few public appearances since the launch of the invasion, and every development has been closely watched for signs of what Russia might be planning next.
But while Putin repeatedly referred to the war, which the Kremlin refers to only as a "special military operation," he refrained from making any major announcements during the relatively short speech.
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The Russian leader addressed the ranks of troops before him, including those he said had returned from fighting in Donbas, the industrial region of eastern Ukraine that is now the center of fighting between Ukrainian forces. and Russian troops.
In a rare nod to the magnitude of that sacrifice, Putin acknowledged Russian losses in Ukraine.
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"The death of every soldier and officer is a tragedy for all of us and an irreparable loss for their families," he said, adding that the state will do everything it can to help their loved ones, especially their children.
With the sky overcast, Putin also reiterated the burden of World War II on the Russian people, saying it was the country's national duty to keep alive the memory of those who defeated Nazism then.
"May 9, 1945 will forever be inscribed in world history as a triumph of our united Soviet people, of their unity and of their spiritual power, an unparalleled feat on the front lines and at home," he said.
Soldiers carry the Russian and Soviet flags during the Victory Day parade on Red Square on May 9, 2022 in Moscow, Russia. Contributor / Getty Images
The Russian leader led a moment of silence, but not before issuing a series of well-known complaints.
He accused the West of neglecting Russia's security demands before the invasion, reiterating Moscow's claim that it was acting to counter a growing threat near its borders from the NATO alliance and saying a confrontation with Russia was inevitable. what he called the "neo-Nazis" of Ukraine, backed by the West.
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“Russia gave a pre-emptive rejection of the aggression.
It was a forced, timely decision and the only correct one,” he stated.
Putin's speech was preceded by the usual show of pomp and pageantry, with neat ranks of soldiers in parade uniforms and a military orchestra playing patriotic songs.
According to the Kremlin, 11,000 people and more than 130 military teams participated in the parade.
No foreign leaders were present as much of the international community seeks to isolate Russia for its actions in Ukraine through political and financial sanctions.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recalled his people's sacrifice in the joint fight of the Soviet Union and the Allies against Nazi Germany in an emotional video, walking down an empty street lined with anti-tank barriers in the capital, kyiv.
Zelenskyy said Moscow hoped that Ukraine would refuse to celebrate the joint victory on May 9 amid the Russian invasion, but "we will not give anyone a piece of our history," he clarified.
"Soon, Ukraine will have two Victory Days and someone will have none left," he added.
“We win then.
Now we will,” he stated.