Brief analysis: President Putin’s speech

The speech and the parade were short and sweet: How to interpret Putin’s words.

René Zittlau

Introduction

Yesterday, May 9, Russia celebrated the Victory Day over German fascism.  VoicefromRussia has published today the speech with simultaneous translation. Also in view of the reactions in the West to the manner of Russian commemoration, it should be expressly remembered that this is Russia’s most important holiday. 

I emphasize this because, given the significance of the day, the overall festivities were modest. 

President Putin’s speech was brief and the subsequent parade was also held on this year’s 78th Victory Day in Moscow’s Red Square on a manageable scale compared to previous years.

The key messages of the speech of the Russian President 

In his speech, Vladimir Putin reminded that this day is also celebrated in Russia in memory of the parade held on this square in November 1941, as well as the Victory Parade on the occasion of the victory of the peoples of the Soviet Union over German fascism in June 1945. 

The battles decisive for the fate of the homeland have always been sacred to Russia and so the country is proud of the participants of the special operation even today – there is no more important task now. 

Russian statehood and the fate of the Russian nation depend on the achievement of the goals there. 

President Putin stressed that for Russia there are no unfriendly hostile nations, neither in the West nor in the East. For Russia, any ideology of superiority is abhorrent, criminal, and deadly. Regardless, Western elites continue to claim exclusivity.

“as if the Western elites had forgotten what the Nazi claims led to at the time”

The Western elites sow hatred, Russophobia and an aggressive nationalism. The West provokes conflicts and coups, destroys traditional values, values that make people human in the first place, with the sole aim of continuing to impose its will on the peoples of the world, its own rules and values. The Western system is a system of plunder and oppression.

It seems to the Russian leadership as if the Western elites have forgotten what the Nazi claims led to at that time. And they have forgotten who defeated this evil, this absolute evil, who defended their own fatherland. They have forgotten who paid with the highest price.

President Putin also addressed the fact that today in Europe memorials are being destroyed in honor of Soviet soldiers who died in the Second World War. Monuments to great Soviet commanders are being torn down. A new Nazi cult is emerging and the memory of true heroes is being tried to be erased. In view of the sacrifices made, such behavior is a crime, an open revanchism of those who have prepared a new crusade against Russia with the help of Nazis from all over the world. 

They want to destroy Russia, they want to nullify the results of the Second World War, they want to destroy the global security system for good, including international law. This is the cause of the Ukrainian catastrophe. 

Russia honors not only its own heroes, but also the achievements of the allies, i.e. the USA, Great Britain, China and other states. This experience of jointly experienced solidarity and partnership is a very important heritage and support today in the desire to build a multipolar world. This world should be based on indivisible trust and indivisible security. 

Vladimir Putin considers it important that the leaders of the CIS countries gathered in Moscow on May 9 to pay tribute to the heroic deeds of their common ancestors, the peoples of the Soviet Union. They fought together and won together.

Dear readers, you now know the content of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s speech almost in its wording, because not much more was actually said. President Putin spoke for about 11 minutes. Despite the brevity, he did not forget to pay tribute to the achievements of the Allies of the time, explicitly mentioning, for example, the USA and Great Britain, and also emphasizing the achievements of China. As in many of his other speeches, Vladimir Putin sought to unite and paid respect to all who contributed to the achievement of the goal of defeating German fascism.

Conclusion

I now ask you to compare this speech with those words chosen for this solemn occasion by, for example, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at a May 9 press conference in Washingtion. Or compare the tone, style and spirit of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s words in his speech to the European Parliament on the same day on the same occasion. 

We will return to both events in separate articles.