MOSCOW, Russia – In a fiery Victory Day address on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of waging a “true war” against Russia following the nation’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
“Russia has no unfriendly nations in the West or in the East. A true war has been unleashed against our motherland,” Putin declared, amidst the grandeur of the Victory Day parade, as reported by CNN. The Russian leader falsely claimed that the West had provoked the war in Ukraine, adding, “We have repelled international terrorism and to fit, we will defend the residents of Donbas and secure our own safety.”
Thousands of people lined Moscow’s Red Square on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, as Russia celebrated its annual Victory Day parade, a potent show of patriotism marking the Soviet Union’s key role in defeating Nazi Germany in World War II.
May 9, recognized as Victory Day in Moscow’s time zone, commemorates the day in 1945 when Germany signed its Instrument of Surrender in Berlin, bringing an end to the conflict in Europe.
The day holds immense significance for Putin, who has often used the occasion to rally public support, flex the country’s military might, and denounce what he perceives as historical injustices inflicted by Western nations.
Putin spared no words for Ukraine, a nation that has been battling Russia’s invasion since February 2022. In his address, he derisively described Ukraine as a “pawn” in the West’s “cruel and selfish plans,” asserting that the Ukrainian nation has “become hostage to a coup which led to a criminal regime led by its Western masters.”
The Victory Day parade, according to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, was expected to showcase more than 10,000 participants and 125 units of various types of weapons and equipment. The spectacle has previously drawn world leaders like former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
However, CNN reported that such displays of solidarity have waned in recent years, following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, leading to strained diplomatic ties. Despite this, Putin’s Victory Day address served as a stark reminder of Russia’s unyielding stance in the face of international criticism.
