It is a parade used by Vladimir Putin to show off the might of his army. As every year, the Russians celebrate on Monday May 9 the “Day of Victory” over Nazism. Two and a half months after his decision to invade Ukraine, the strongman of the Kremlin wants to make this event a showcase of Moscow’s ambitions against the West. “As in 1945, victory will be ours”, assured the Russian leader on Sunday. Follow our live.
A gigantic celebration in Moscow. Several military ceremonies will be organized with great fanfare across the country on Monday. The largest is planned for Moscow’s Red Square, attended by Vladimir Putin, 11,000 soldiers, 131 units of military equipment and 77 planes and helicopters, according to the Russian news agency Interfax (in Russian).
A crucial date in the offensive in Ukraine? According to US intelligence quoted by CNN and the British Ministry of Defense (in English)May 9 marks a deadline for the Russian president, who intends to declare a victory or significant progress on the Ukrainian front. “Ahead of May 9, Putin has set himself the goal of a victory parade for this war,” said Ukrainian Security Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov.
Putin showers Russia with “dishonor”, according to the G7. Before these military ceremonies in Russia, the G7 wanted to put pressure on Vladimir Putin by claiming that the leader was covering for his people “of dishonor”. Moreover, “the entire G7 today pledged to ban or phase out imports of Russian oil”the White House said in a statement on Sunday.