Putin says war in Ukraine was necessary due to West 'preparing for invasion of our land'
No grand announcements; no unexpected declarations. In the absence of any actual victory on the battlefield this was really the best that Vladimir Putin could do at this year's Victory parade, overshadowed as it is by the horrors in Ukraine. Claim self-defence, assume the moral high-ground and label NATO the aggressor as he has done many times over the past few months.
Mobilisation also won't necessarily tip things the way Russia wants them to go. Sending in hastily trained men with little military background could be more of a curse than a blessing. Defining this as a"special military operation" rather than an actual conflict gives the Russian people the impression that it is short, sharp and targeted. They can worry about their own lives because this will all be over soon, or so the logic goes.
Speaking to Sky News, the top British diplomat said Mr Putin had recently shown"disturbing signs" of"losing it". But he said his speech today was"coherent" and a"very professional performance".
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