In the end, there was no big reveal on Moscow’s Red Square on May 9. But is the devil in the detail of Vladimir Putin's Victory Day speech? In commemorating 1945 win over the Nazis, the Russian president did not declare war on Ukraine or announce a mass mobilisation, defying some expectations. He did however single out the perceived aggression of ''America and its minions”.
Is it all a bit of bluster, or can Putin still spring a surprise? What would be the interest in drawing NATO members directly into the conflict?
While Russia has failed to produce sizeable territorial gains to celebrate, the West continues to ramp up support for Kyiv. The US first lady and the Canadian prime minister are the latest top officials to visit Ukraine and the EU is drawing closer to an oil embargo on Russia.
As for Victory Day itself, Putin has made May 9 the most sacred day on the Russian calendar, with the fight for Ukraine also becoming a battle over the memory of what the former Soviet republics call the Great Patriotic War.
Produced by Alessandro Xenos, Juliette Laurain and Imen Mellaz.
