# Putin’s Victory Day speech leaves no clue on future escalation
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-05-09
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Putin's Defiant Victory Day Speech Amid Rising
Meta Description: Putin rallies Russians in a bold Victory Day address, amidst escalating conflict in Ukraine and Western fears of a national mobilisation. Read more.
URL: https://financedigest.com/putins-victory-day-speech-leaves-no-clue-on-future-escalationhtml

![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-05-09t100051z1lynxnpei480e4rtroptp4ww2-anniversary-russia-parade-1736815761068-compressed.jpg)

By Pavel Polityuk and Jonathan Landay

KYIV/KHARKIV, Ukraine (Reuters) -Vladimir [Putin](https://www.financedigest.com/exclusive-russias-putin-to-stay-in-power-past-2024-sources-say.html) exhorted Russians to battle in a defiant Victory Day speech on Monday, but was silent about plans for any escalation in Ukraine, despite Western warnings he might use his Red Square address to order a national mobilisation.

In Ukraine, there was no let-up in fighting, with Kyiv describing a stepped-up Russian offensive in the east and a renewed push to defeat the last Ukrainian troops holding out in a steelworks in ruined Mariupol.

Monday’s annual parade in Moscow – with the usual ballistic missiles and tanks rumbling across the cobblestones – was easily the most closely watched since the 1945 defeat of the Nazis that it celebrates.

Western capitals had openly speculated for weeks that Putin was driving his forces to achieve enough [progress by the symbolic date to declare victory – but with few gains made](https://www.financedigest.com/sweden-finland-and-turkey-have-made-progress-on-nato-membership-sweden-says.html "Sweden, Finland and Turkey have made progress on NATO membership, Sweden says") so far, might instead announce a national call-up for war.

In the end, he did neither, but repeated his assertions that [Russian forces in Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/ukraine-grants-citizenship-to-top-russian-journalist-who-denounced-war.html "Ukraine grants citizenship to top Russian journalist who denounced war") were again fighting Nazis.

You are fighting for the Motherland, for its future, so that no one forgets the lessons of [World War](https://www.financedigest.com/covid-war-and-fed-push-world-stocks-down-for-4th-day.html "COVID, War and Fed push world stocks down for 4th day") Two. So that there is no [place in the world](https://www.financedigest.com/homehunters-find-the-best-of-the-both-worlds-at-chantry-place.html "Homehunters find the best of the both worlds at Chantry Place") for executioners, castigators and Nazis,” Putin said from the tribune outside the Kremlin walls.

[Ukraine’s President](https://www.financedigest.com/south-korea-has-not-supplied-lethal-weapons-to-ukraine-president-says.html "South Korea has not supplied lethal weapons to Ukraine, president says") Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in his own speech, promised Ukrainians they would defeat the invasion.

“On the Day of Victory over Nazism, we are fighting for a new victory. The road to it is difficult, but we have no doubt that we will win,” said Zelenskiy, in plain army garb with his shirt sleeves rolled-up.

In a clear reference to Putin, Zelenskiy added: “The one who is repeating the horrific [crimes of Hitler’s regime today](https://www.financedigest.com/geo-political-uncertainty-and-evolving-criminal-methods-are-the-biggest-financial-crime-risks-facing-banks-today-new-report-shows.html "Geo-political uncertainty and evolving criminal methods are the biggest financial crime risks facing banks today, new report shows"), following Nazi philosophy, copying everything they did – he is doomed.

Putin’s war has [killed thousands of civilians](https://www.financedigest.com/ukraine-says-first-civilians-killed-in-lviv-fighters-cling-on-in-mariupol.html "Ukraine says first civilians killed in Lviv, fighters cling on in Mariupol"), sent millions fleeing and reduced cities to rubble. Russia has little to show for it beyond a strip of territory in the [south and marginal gains in the east](https://www.financedigest.com/pimp-my-ride-south-east-drivers-most-likely-to-modify-their-cars.html "Pimp my ride! South East drivers most likely to modify their cars").

Sheltering in a metro station in Kharkiv, [Ukraine’s mainly Russian-speaking second city](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-seizes-ukraine-nuclear-power-plant-as-forces-lay-siege-to-cities.html "Russia seizes Ukraine nuclear power plant as forces lay siege to cities"), which has been bombed relentlessly since the war’s first days, World War Two survivor Vira Mykhailivna, 90, buried her tear-stained cheeks in her palms.

“I didn’t think this could ever happen to us,” she said. This [day was once a great celebration.”](https://www.financedigest.com/tall-marks-its-25th-year-with-celebration-day.html "TALL Marks its 25th Year with Celebration Day ")

Kateryna Grigoriyevna, 79, a retired [bank manager](https://www.financedigest.com/exclusive-allianz-in-talks-with-banks-for-china-asset-management-venture-sources.html "Exclusive-Allianz in talks with banks for China asset management venture -sources") who has spent 10 weeks underground in the cavernous station, sat eating an ice cream she had ventured out to buy for Victory Day.

“We hate Putin,” she said, glancing around the platform where some 200 people cluster in tents and on thin mattresses.

“I would kill him myself if I could.”

‘ONLY DISHONOUR, AND SURELY DEFEAT’

The Soviet victory in World [War Two has acquired almost religious status in Russia](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-sharply-scales-back-far-east-war-games-with-china.html "Russia sharply scales back Far East war games with China") under Putin, who has invoked the memory of the “Great Patriotic War” throughout what he calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine. Western [countries consider](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-will-consider-making-countries-fill-gas-storage-energy-chief.html "EU will consider making countries fill gas storage – energy chief") that a false analogy to justify unprovoked aggression.

There can be no victory day, only dishonour and surely defeat in Ukraine,” said [British Defence Secretary](https://www.financedigest.com/british-home-secretary-calls-on-other-nations-to-help-take-in-afghan-refugees.html "British Home Secretary calls on other nations to help take in Afghan refugees") Ben Wallace. “He must come to terms with how he’s lost in the long run, and he’s absolutely lost.”

After an assault on [Kyiv was defeated in March by strong Ukrainian](https://www.financedigest.com/eus-michel-tells-ukrainians-during-kyiv-visit-history-will-not-forget.html "EU’s Michel tells Ukrainians during Kyiv visit: ‘History will not forget’") resistance, Russia poured more troops in for a huge offensive in the east last month. But Russian gains have been slow at best, and [Western arms are flooding into Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-russian-gold-removed-from-some-western-funds-after-ukraine.html "Analysis-Russian gold removed from some Western funds after Ukraine") for an expected counter-attack.

Western military experts – many of whom initially predicted a quick [Russian victory – now say Moscow could be running](https://www.financedigest.com/russian-services-activity-shrinks-for-third-month-running-in-dec-pmi.html "Russian services activity shrinks for third month running in Dec -PMI") out of fresh troops. A full declaration of [war would let Putin](https://www.financedigest.com/russian-president-vladimir-putin-claimed-victory-in-the-biggest-battle-of-the-war-in-ukraine.html "Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed victory in the biggest battle of the war in Ukraine") activate reservists and send conscripts.

“What rhetoric Putin used in his speech is immaterial. If he didn’t declare war, or a general mobilisation, that’s what (is) important,” tweeted Phillips O’Brien, a professor of strategic studies at Britain’s University of St Andrews.

Without concrete [steps to build](https://www.financedigest.com/build-a-strong-remote-team-with-these-5-steps.html "Build A Strong Remote Team With These 5 Steps") a new force, Russia can’t fight a long war, and the clock starts ticking on the failure of their army in [Ukraine.](https://www.financedigest.com/france-says-belarus-could-face-more-sanctions-if-it-gets-increasingly-involved-in-ukraine-conflict.html)

The war still seems to enjoy strong public support in Russia, where independent journalism is effectively banned and state television [says Russia is defending itself from NATO](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-says-it-is-committed-to-leading-a-nato-task-force-in-2024.html "Britain says it is committed to leading a NATO task force in 2024"). Conscription would test that support.

Olga, participating in St Petersburg’s “immortal regiment” commemoration march, said she feared for her student son.

“I’m really worried about him. Really. I know many mothers whose sons are now of conscription age … They’re trying to find any [way to save their children](https://www.financedigest.com/valuable-ways-to-get-your-children-ready-for-college-life.html "Valuable Ways to Get Your Children Ready for College Life") from going to this war.

‘STORMING OPERATIONS’

Ukraine’s defence ministry said Russian forces [backed by tanks and artillery were conducting “storming operations”](https://www.financedigest.com/ubisoft-vows-to-get-back-to-operating-margin-above-20-in-medium-term.html "Ubisoft vows to get back to operating margin above 20% in medium term") at the Azovstal plant in Mariupol, where hundreds of Ukrainian defenders have held out through months of siege. [Civilians sheltering there have been evacuated](https://www.financedigest.com/civilians-from-mariupol-flee-azovstal-bunkers-in-u-n-led-evacuation.html "Civilians from Mariupol flee Azovstal bunkers in U.N.-led evacuation") in recent days.

Today, the [Russians](https://www.financedigest.com/gazprom-books-no-yamal-europe-gas-transit-capacity-for-dec-30.html) focused on blowing up the bridge over which the evacuation takes place, trying to [cut off our defenders](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-sunak-under-fire-over-cost-of-living-defends-his-tax-cut-plans.html "UK’s Sunak, under fire over cost of living, defends his tax cut plans") from the possibility of exit,” Mariupol mayoral aide Petro Andryuschenko said.

On the main eastern front, Ukraine’s [military command said in its nightly Facebook briefing that Russian forces](https://www.financedigest.com/forces-compare-launches-to-protect-the-military-from-being-overcharged.html "Forces Compare Launches to Protect The Military From Being Overcharged") were continuing attempts to take control of the Luhansk region town of Rubizhne in order to create favourable conditions for a further assault on the towns of Lyman and Sievierodonetsk.

Just before the Red Square parade was broadcast, Moscow satellite television menus were briefly altered to show viewers messages condemning the [Ukraine war](https://www.financedigest.com/ukraine-seeks-debt-payment-freeze-as-war-ravages-economy.html "Ukraine seeks debt payment freeze as war ravages economy").

“The TV and the authorities are lying. No to war,” the messages said.

(Additional [reporting by Oleksandr Kozhukhar in Lviv and Reuters](https://www.financedigest.com/thomson-reuters-report-reveals-risk-compliance-staff-expect-to-see-significant-benefits-from-artificial-intelligence-ai-and-distributed-ledger-technologies.html "Thomson Reuters Report Reveals Risk & Compliance Staff Expect to See Significant Benefits from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Distributed Ledger Technologies") bureaus; Writing by Peter Graff and Philippa Fletcher; Editing by Catherine Evans)


---
This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more.
---