In Moscow, a restricted parade illustrating Putins moment of vulnerability

“A mini-défilé in a dark red square,” observes Italy’s La Repubblica. “A scaled-down parade,” confirms the British newspaper The Guardian, while in the United States, The New York Times mentions “a less muscular victory day than usual,” which would show “the growing vulnerability of Vladimir Putin.”

From Rome to New York and London, the conclusion is the same on this Saturday, May 9. The famous annual parade in Moscow to celebrate the victory of the USSR over Nazi Germany was muted this year. “The event was organized in fear of a Ukrainian attack, as Kiev had shown it was capable of striking from a great distance with its drones and new Flamingo missiles,” explains La Repubblica, noting that Vladimir Putin’s security was guaranteed by a ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev announced yesterday by Donald Trump. A truce that seemed to be “a concession from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.”

So, no showcasing of tanks and missiles. Unlike in previous years. “In their place, guests were shown a video displaying Russia’s capabilities in drones and nuclear technology,” notes The Guardian, which states that the parade “lasted about 45 minutes, nearly half the time of previous years.” Nevertheless, Vladimir Putin did address the public, praising the courage of Russian soldiers from World War II, a source of inspiration for troops facing “an aggressive armed force supported by the entire NATO bloc,” said the Kremlin leader, promising victory. “A speech full of confidence,” trying to conceal “the moment of great vulnerability faced by the Russian president,” the British newspaper concludes.

“No willingness to compromise”

“In the absence of a visible victory and without an end in sight to the current war, the morale of the Russian population is deteriorating,” insists the progressive newspaper. “Massive internet shutdowns imposed by security services in the weeks leading up to the parade have fueled public anger and caused Putin’s popularity to plummet.”

Beyond these recent weeks, the London media describes a struggling Russia, with an economy “showing signs of fatigue.” “Growth has slowed significantly, inflation is soaring, affecting both Russian citizens and businesses, while the budget deficit reaches record levels,” criticizes The Guardian. The progressive newspaper also discusses a military situation in Ukraine that is largely stagnant, with no significant progress from either side. But despite this, “there are no signs of Putin’s willingness to compromise.”

As The New York Times recalls, since the start of the war in Ukraine, “in the last four years, Putin has overcome multiple crises that had led to predicting the imminent collapse of his regime.” Such as the first counteroffensive of the Kiev army, which regained many territories, or the revolt of Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner Group mercenaries.

Thus, despite some discontent spreading among the population and elites, it must not be forgotten that Putin knows how to be patient amidst the storm, warns Russian political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya in the columns of the American media: “He can hold out for a very long time. And then, sometimes he issues a warning about something and suddenly takes action. Like in this war.”