Source: Global Times
"May 9 may be the climax of the Russian offensive, or it may be the node of the suspension of peace talks." The Spanish "El País" article on the 4th said that next week or become a "critical week", Moscow may hope to commemorate the victory of the Great Patriotic War as a "milestone" in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. In recent days, such "speculations" have continued to emerge in the Western media, and some even exaggerated that Russia intends to escalate "special military operations" on the 9th and formally "declare war" on Ukraine. "Nonsense." Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov responded to this on the 4th. Rather than speculating about whether Moscow will make some "big announcement" on a symbolic day, the West should perhaps focus more on what it can do to cool down the Russian-Ukrainian conflict than continue to "arch the fire." On the 3rd, US President Biden delivered a speech at a factory that produces "Javelin" missiles for russian tanks, British Prime Minister Johnson announced that he would provide Ukraine with a package of military assistance worth 300 million pounds, and Germany expressed support for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on the same day that the West should stop supplying weapons to Ukraine because it encourages "atrocities."
"The world will listen more carefully to Putin's speech"
According to russia's TASS news agency reported on the 4th, Russia's "5.9 Victory Day" red square military parade will complete the last night rehearsal on the same day, and the general rehearsal will be carried out on the morning of the 7th. According to information released by the Russian Ministry of Defense, a total of 11,000 people, 131 weapons and equipment, 77 aircraft and helicopters participated in the Red Square military parade this year. Russian Defense Minister Shoigu said on the 4th that 28 Russian cities will hold a military parade on the 9th, with a total of about 65,000 people and 460 aircraft participating.
On this day of great significance, whether Putin will make major declarations has become a hot topic of discussion in the Western media for several days. CNN said on the 3rd that Western officials believe that Moscow may officially "declare war" on Ukraine as early as the 9th. So far, Moscow has stressed that the conflict is a "special military operation" for the "de-Nazification" of Ukraine. A "declaration of war" means allowing Putin to mobilize reserve forces and conscription.
Contrary to the "declaration of war" speculation, India's "The Print" said on the 3rd that Russia intends to end its "invasion" of Ukraine on the 9th. CNN argues that if it were not for a "declaration of war," Putin might emphasize the results of Russia's military operations, including progress in eastern Ukraine, a major push toward Odessa to the south, or a declaration of full control of the port city of Mariupol.
The Us "Atlantic Monthly" said on the 3rd that in the West, May 9 was basically "quietly" passed in previous years; in Russia, this is a solemn commemoration day through military parades and other activities. This year, the world will listen more carefully to Putin's speech. He may provide clues as to whether he intends to end the military conflict or expand it further. Putin will "blame" the West and is likely to make a call to action for the Russian people.
In response to western media concerns that Russia may "declare war" or mobilize on the 9th, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov said on the 4th that this is "nonsense". Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov also said in a recent interview with Italian media that commemorating the victory of the Great Patriotic War will not have any impact on the operation in Ukraine, the Russian army will not specifically adjust the operation according to a date, and Moscow's first consideration is to minimize the risks faced by civilians and Russian military personnel.
Simulate a nuclear attack
The confrontation between Russia and the West continues. Putin signed a presidential decree on the 3rd in response to economic measures against foreign unfriendly behavior, including prohibiting the Russian Federation and local organs and organizations and individuals governed by Russian law, and signing any agreements, including foreign trade, with the legal persons and individuals of sanctioned unfriendly countries and organizations; prohibiting the transportation of products and raw materials originating in Russia to organizations and individuals that are conducive to the sanctions outside the Russian Federation.
Russia's "Kommers" quoted Professor Poltansky of the Russian Higher University of Economics as saying on the 4th that the above measures will make Russia and the West face some difficulties, but due to the unprecedented degree of confrontation between the two sides, these measures are considered to be within the acceptable range. Some analysts say that the price of fuels, metals and some chemicals in Europe is likely to rise due to such measures.
At the same time, a program recently broadcast by the "Russia-1" TV channel has attracted widespread attention. According to the British newspaper The Guardian, the show simulated a nuclear attack on Europe and claimed it would destroy Ireland and Britain. Some Irish politicians condemned the incident and called for the expulsion of the Russian ambassador to Ireland. The Russian Embassy issued a statement saying that this was the view of the TV show, "Russia's official position has always been that there can be no winner in a nuclear war, and that nuclear war must not be launched."
The Washington Post said on the 3rd that "Russia-1" TV channel host Kishelev used nuclear strikes twice in the program - one was an air strike, one was a sea strike - to intimidate the United Kingdom. "When you [Britain] sit on a small island, why would you threaten a vast Russia with nuclear weapons?", he said. Kishelev appears to be accusing British Prime Minister Johnson of threatening a nuclear strike against Russia.
In recent months, Britain has been actively at the forefront of the "anti-Russian camp" in the West. Following his "surprise visit" to Kiev in April, Johnson became the first foreign leader to address the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine since the Russian-Ukrainian military conflict on the 3rd. He claimed through video that "stopping" Russian troops was "Ukraine's most glorious moment", adding that there should never be a peaceful solution against the will of the Ukrainian people.
Also on the 3rd, Biden traveled to Alabama to visit Lockheed Martin's factory that manufactures Javelin anti-tank missiles. He said the United States was leading allies and partners to ensure that Ukrainians "fighting for the future of the country" had the capabilities, weapons and equipment "to withstand Putin's brutal war." He also told the factory employees, "You made this possible." ”
"We're going to have to build some kind of relationship"
At the same time as the confrontation, some diplomatic contacts are also unfolding with difficulty. The US Political News Network said that Putin and French President Macron had a 2-hour and 10-minute call on the 3rd, which was the 20th time since December last year, but more than a month has passed since the last time.
The report believes that the differences between the two sides seem to be the same as before, and the press releases issued by the two governments are very different. Macron "called on Russia to fulfill its responsibilities as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council to end this devastating aggression," the Elysee Palace said, and the Kremlin said Putin stressed in the call that the EU ignored the war crimes committed by Ukraine, which is responsible for the massive shelling in Donbass.
"Kommers" quoted Fedorov, an expert at the Institute of European Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as saying on the 4th that despite the sharp contradictions with Russia, France still intends to continue the dialogue, "Whether you like it or not, we are all neighbors." Regardless of how the action in Ukraine ends, we will have to establish some kind of relationship."
[Global Times special correspondent in Russia Sui Xin Ren Zhong Liu Yupeng]
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