Without major military announcements, Russian President Vladimir Putin has addressed the country in a speech marking the anniversary of the Soviet Victory Day over Nazi Germany in World War II. Pre-emptive attack, patriotism, moral degradation… these are just some of Putin’s arguments to justify the “special operation” carried out against Ukraine. Below we summarize his speech in seven headlines:
Putin speaks of a “preemptive” attack in the face of the threat from NATO and the West
“We have seen how military infrastructures are deployed, how hundreds of foreign experts worked in Ukraine, how they were supplying NATO weapons,” the Russian president defended before hundreds of soldiers and military commanders in Red Square.
“The danger was growing every day. Russia carried out a preventive response, it was a necessary measure and the only possible one in this situation. It was a decision of a sovereign, strong and independent country,” he added during the traditional military parade.
Putin promises to do “everything possible so that the horror of a global war does not repeat itself”
He argued that Russia has promised to do “everything possible so that the horror of a global war is not repeated” and therefore, he said, “despite all the differences in international relations, Russia has always advocated a global and indivisible security system , one that is vital to the entire global community.”
“Last December we proposed to close an agreement on security guarantees. Russia called on the West for a sincere dialogue, to seek solutions and reasonable compromises for the common good. All in vain. The NATO countries did not want to listen to us, which meant that in fact they had completely different plans and we saw them,” he said.
Putin on the West: “They were preparing a punitive operation in Donbas”
Openly, he added, “they were preparing a punitive operation in Donbas, an invasion of our historical territories, including Crimea. In kyiv they announced the possible acquisition of nuclear weapons and the NATO bloc began active military development of the territories. in our vicinity.”
“In this way, an intolerable threat was being systematically created for us directly on our borders,” he said, while considering that “everything pointed to a confrontation with neo-Nazis, supporters of (Ukrainian collaborationist leader Stepan) Bandera ( …), it would be unavoidable”.
Putin: “Donbas militias together with the Russian Army fight on their own land”
Putin pointed out that today, 77 years after the end of World War II, “the Donbas militias together with the Russian Army are fighting on their own land (…)”.
“I now address our Armed Forces and the militiamen of Donbas: you fight for the homeland, for its future, so that no one forgets the lessons of the Second World War, so that there is no room in the world for executioners, repressors and Nazis” , he pointed.
Putin: “We fight so that there is no place in the world for executors and Nazis”
Before asking for a minute of silence, Putin bowed his head to the memory of all those whose lives were taken by the Great Patriotic War (1931-1945), to the memory of sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, grandparents, husbands, wives , brothers, sisters, relatives, friends, he stated.
Putin: “We bow our heads to the memory of the Odessa martyrs, who were burned alive in the House of Trade Unions in May 2014”
“We bow our heads to the memory of the Odessa martyrs, who were burned alive in the House of Trade Unions in May 2014. To the memory of the elderly, women and children of Donbas, the civilians who died from the ruthless bombings, the barbaric neo-Nazi attacks,” he stressed.
Putin noted that soldiers who fought during the “special military operation” in Ukraine, which he announced on February 24, were taking part in the parade.
Putin charges against the “moral degradation” and the lack of values of the West
“In the West, apparently, they have decided to cancel these ancient values. This moral degradation is the basis for the cynical falsification of the history of World War II, inciting Russophobia, applauding traitors and mocking the memory of the victims,” also criticized the Russian leader.
Source: Lasexta
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
