Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that the conflict in Ukraine is nearing its end after 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. Talking to reporters, Putin accused Western “globalist elites” of arming Ukraine to defeat and break up Russia and declared that “I think the matter is coming to an end.”
Putin claims the conflict is ‘coming to an end’ but his parade lacked heavy weapons for the first time in 20 years—sounds like he’s losing steam, not winning.
How can Putin say the West is trying to ‘break up Russia’ when NATO hasn’t even sent troops? This feels like propaganda to justify the war at home.
Victory Day without heavy weapons is a huge symbolic shift. Even the Kremlin knows this war isn’t going as planned, no matter what Putin tells reporters.
Regional stability hangs in the balance with every new escalation. (0c4a4d)
If the ‘globalist elites’ are really arming Ukraine to defeat Russia, why hasn’t Ukraine retaken all its territory yet? Putin’s logic doesn’t add up.
War fatigue is setting in among the public but the fighting continues. (0c7119)
I’m worried Putin is setting the stage for a final offensive or a frozen conflict. His ‘end’ talk might mean a major push, not peace.
The irony of Putin invoking WWII victory while bombing a neighboring country is lost on no one. Real heroes don’t invade their neighbors.
The humanitarian aid pipeline is chronically underfunded for the scale of need. (137bdd)
War fatigue is setting in among the public but the fighting continues. (2912bb)
Humanitarian corridors keep being promised but rarely materialise. (45c684)
The psychological toll on survivors will last far longer than the fighting. (a821a1)
When does the cycle of retaliation ever actually stop? (1cc8a8)
The arms trade keeps fuelling conflicts like this across the globe. (f7dafc)