Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday voiced confidence of victory in Ukraine as he oversaw a military parade on Red Square commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II – a show that didn’t include heavy weapons for the first time in nearly two decades. Security was tight in Moscow as Putin and several foreign leaders attended the parade, which was scaled down even as a US-brokered three-day ceasefire eased concerns about possible Ukrainian attempts to disrupt the festivities.
Putin’s confidence in Ukraine victory rings hollow when they can’t even roll out tanks for the parade—first time in 20 years without heavy weapons says a lot about their military priorities.
Interesting that a US-brokered ceasefire was needed to guarantee Moscow’s Victory Day went smoothly. Putin must love relying on the enemy to keep his celebration safe.
The international community has a moral obligation to intervene more directly. (63c659)
Independent journalists are essential but increasingly unable to operate safely. (953236)
The regional power dynamics make this far more complicated than it appears. (d3614f)
The scaled-down parade with no heavy weapons feels symbolic—like Russia is saving its firepower for the real fight in Ukraine rather than showing off in Red Square.
What exactly is the endgame here? Nobody seems to have a clear answer. (e97399)
Neighbouring countries are bracing for spillover and it’s already happening. (37968a)
This isn’t a conflict that can be solved through military means alone. (98cac9)
The psychological toll on survivors will last far longer than the fighting. (5e7264)