In a scaled-back commemoration of Victory Day, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a speech in Moscow’s Red Square, framing his ongoing military campaign in Ukraine as a “just” war against what he described as an “aggressive force” backed by NATO. His remarks coincided with muted public celebrations, reflecting the somber atmosphere overshadowing Russia’s most significant national holiday, which honours the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany.
A Justification for War
Addressing a crowd of military personnel and a handful of foreign dignitaries, Putin began by paying tribute to the sacrifices made by Soviet soldiers in World War Two. He asserted that the current generation of Russian soldiers, engaged in what he refers to as a “special military operation”, draws inspiration from their predecessors. “The great feat of the generation of victors inspires the soldiers carrying out the goals of the special military operation today,” he stated, reiterating his stance that they are facing a formidable adversary.
Putin’s rhetoric has consistently positioned Ukraine as an extension of Western aggression, claiming that NATO’s support for Kyiv represents a direct threat to Russia. “They are confronting an aggressive force armed and supported by the whole
