Putin Justifies War and Defends the Invasion of Ukraine in his “Victory” Day Speech

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Russia-Ukraine Live Updates: Putin Defends War in Victory Day Speech – The New York Times

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the West in his Victory Day speech, claiming that the U.S. and other countries had propped up a “threat” on Russia’s borders and threatened to use nuclear war against his country.

The Russian president used his traditional address to shore up the home front, claiming that Kyiv sought to acquire nuclear weapons. He also claimed that American-backed forces with historical links to the Nazis planned to terrorize the Donbas and invade Crimea.

Putin claimed that the enemies of his country have tried to use international terrorism against him and that those fighting in the Donbas is fighting for their homeland.

Putin vowed to punish the Nazis in Ukraine and respect those who fought with him. He also said that the Azov Battalion is not a volunteer formation and that anyone who wanted to get involved in politics left the regiment.

Putin’s threats of “nuclear war” were unclear. Still, Zelenskyy called for “global control” of the Kremlin’s nuclear capabilities after Russian forces shelled Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and flew missiles over three nuclear power plants at once.

Putin’s regime has managed to suppress dissent and criminalize anti-war demonstrations, but deep anxiety and apprehension regarding the war may yet become a problem.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has transformed the world, with millions of people fleeing, a new Iron Curtain grinding into place, an economic war deepening, and evidence of horrific war crimes mounting.

  1. Russia-Ukraine Live Updates: Putin Defends War in Victory Day Speech  The New York Times
  2. Putin accuses the West of backing threats of ‘nuclear war,’ provoking the Ukraine conflict  Fox News
  3. Russia’s Putin blames West for war in Ukraine in Victory Day speech – BBC News  BBC News
  4. Opinion | Putin is trapped in a quagmire and doesn’t know how to get out  The Washington Post
  5. The Guardian view on Putin’s Victory Day speech: justifying the unjustifiable  The Guardian
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News