On Friday, Russia will commemorate the 80th anniversary of its victory over Nazi Germany with a grand military parade, expected to be the largest since the onset of its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This event is designed to reinforce national unity and consolidate support for the continuing conflict in Ukraine. As world leaders are anticipated to attend, the Kremlin seeks to connect this commemorative moment to the current military engagement, portraying it as a fight against Western aggression.
The parade, set against the iconic backdrop of the Kremlin, aims to evoke a sense of pride, linking past triumphs with present endeavors. “Our great victory 80 years ago serves as a new narrative for Russia’s current standoff with the West,” states Sergei Lyaguzin, an international relations professor, emphasizing the regime's attempts to rally public sentiment around this historical event.
However, the realities behind the spectacle tell a different story. Despite the grandiosity of the parade, Russia's military performance in Ukraine has faced stagnation, and its economy is facing pressing challenges. Prices for oil, a critical revenue generator for Russia, are dropping sharply. Additionally, recent comments from international figures, including former President Trump, suggest a waning support for President Putin and his military actions.
Experts, such as Alexander Kolyandr from the Center for European Policy Analysis, emphasize that while President Putin downplays these challenges by accepting short-term pain for potential long-term gains, the situation may be more precarious than it appears. “They believe that victory will not go to the side that is the best, but to the one that remains standing the longest," he says.
As the parade approaches, it remains to be seen how the displayed might will resonate amidst the underlying economic strains and shifting political narratives.
The parade, set against the iconic backdrop of the Kremlin, aims to evoke a sense of pride, linking past triumphs with present endeavors. “Our great victory 80 years ago serves as a new narrative for Russia’s current standoff with the West,” states Sergei Lyaguzin, an international relations professor, emphasizing the regime's attempts to rally public sentiment around this historical event.
However, the realities behind the spectacle tell a different story. Despite the grandiosity of the parade, Russia's military performance in Ukraine has faced stagnation, and its economy is facing pressing challenges. Prices for oil, a critical revenue generator for Russia, are dropping sharply. Additionally, recent comments from international figures, including former President Trump, suggest a waning support for President Putin and his military actions.
Experts, such as Alexander Kolyandr from the Center for European Policy Analysis, emphasize that while President Putin downplays these challenges by accepting short-term pain for potential long-term gains, the situation may be more precarious than it appears. “They believe that victory will not go to the side that is the best, but to the one that remains standing the longest," he says.
As the parade approaches, it remains to be seen how the displayed might will resonate amidst the underlying economic strains and shifting political narratives.
