[000:00:00;00] ah, ah ah, this is dw news live from the lan, russia steps off its assault on ukraine as it mocks. its annual victory day brushes, military has started its parade in moscow, putting on a show of force that it's world war 2 commemorations. western countries say russia has nothing to celebrate in its invasion of youth.

ah, i am rebecca rich's welcome to the program. russia is holding its annual celebration of its 1945 victory world war 2 with a show of military might as its army battles, kids forces in you, crime, you know, saying live pictures now of loss goes red square military vehicles at the red square for a major parade on the de russia calls victory day. russian president vladimir putin will be giving a speech shortly where the world will be listening closely to what he'll say about his war against you. crime. oh, what they'll do. oh, the date of the reporter until joins me. he, in the studio and i, the day has always been very significant for the kremlin a big day talk us about the significance of this particular day. well, i mean, victory day plays a very special role in russian politics in general, since 1995 excuse me, has really become kind of a touchstone of sorts. kind of

a nationalistic holidays, almost like the default national holiday in russia, where they celebrate their victory over nazi germany. you have to remember the soviet union and the russian people suffered like hardly another group of people at the hands of announces lawson 27000000. soviet citizens during the war and much like in the united states or the u. k or not really is kind of come a touchstone of sorts where they kind of look that and say, look, we are the good guys. we did a demonstrably evil empire. and it's kind of become one of the founding mythos of modern russia. now, from my understanding has changed the narrative around a day what he's intensified to a large extent. basically it's become one of those events where people rally around the flag. they look at the grandeur of the russian state and the strength of the russian state in, through its military looking at all the weapons that they have and the forces that they have in general. now that brings us to date, i mean all indications are that pollutant wanted to declare victory in ukraine at

this victory day. i mean that would just kind of lend itself based on his nationalistic policies, but he's very much on the back foot right now. he's not had the quick military victory that he really wanted in ukraine. so this victory day is kind of being watched by observers around the world. how is pollutant going to refrain this conflict to make it either look like he has that victory? he's wanted or maybe get his people ready for a long term battle like a battle of attrition that could go several months or several years. we don't know how he's going to take this direction, which is part of the reason it's such a hotly watched event. yeah, russian observers, i wanted to touch on that. there's been so much speculation about what it might say today what he's going to do, which direction he'll take. what are you going to be looking out for? well, i'm really going to be looking out for that. re freeman. we don't know exactly how he's going to take the some analyst a lot in the united states are expecting them to actually declare total complete war against ukraine because you have to remember right now. this conflict were seen isn't officially a war. it's a special military operation. now, if you were to declare war on ukraine official war new frame that would allow them

to call it reserves to create a general globalization in the country and see an escalation of the conflict. at the same time, he might be going more the insurgency road where he says, ok, look, this is going to be a long conflict. it's going to be kind of like a situation in the balkans. after on the soviet union collapsed. it could be looking at getting people ready for a long conflict through the end of this year through the winter. or, you know, he could also attempt to threaten with that escalation, in order to get you to come to the negotiating table. we really don't know which way he's going to take it, which is why a lot of people are really waiting for speech to see, you know, where i'm going to pass the ball next year. well, that speculation about declaration of war and potential mobilization of rush and how do you think if he would take that route? how do you think that would go down with us population? well, that's really an open question. i mean, if there is a general conscription going on, if there is a general draft, if that goes down in moscow in saint petersburg, while they're likely to go on to the streets and demonstrate against it. while moscow in saint petersburg,

the major cities in the country might seem like to be most loyal to prudent, or actually, you know, kind of the hot beds of opposition to kremlin power. that means that there isn't a lot of opposition in russia. in general. you probably be seen a lot of that conscription out in some of the periphery in the smaller towns or out in central asia as well. that is also apparently been a strategy with getting some of the troops events in ukraine anyway. so it's most likely to see that that mobilization going outside of the country. but again, a lot of animals are actually saying that russia doesn't really have the capacity. they don't have the supply chains, they don't have logistics to support that type of general mobilization. so that's also an open question. if russia would actually be able to declare a proper war and ukraine moving forward. well in that case, do you think it could be likely that he might be looking for an exit or an off ramp if you will, that he might say, ok we, you know, we've taken mary paul, we've got these minus successes here and there. and you know, we're happy with that and thanks very much. oh, you know what, what's your opinion? well, that could be one of the models moving forward. some people are saying that he might

actually declare that russia has already achieved its goals in ukraine. might actually say that, you know, we've quote unquote taken the east. it's now secure, of course that doesn't gel with the facts on the ground, but it's all about, you know, the betrayal. it's all about the framing moving forward. he could very well say we've, we've reached our goals and we're now ready to go to the negotiating table. but, you know, let me put in a very, very proud man. and we don't know if he would actually be willing to take what would be seen internationally is such a major setback. he has proven himself to be very calculated, but also very thin skin in the past. so yes, it is a possibility. i don't necessarily think it's the likely scenario, however much you've spent a lot of time reporting in russia living in russia study in russia. you speak russian. do russians support president? yes, this they do. i mean, all opinion polls have indicated that actually put in support in recent months has gone up thanks to the conflict in ukraine, you know, from united states originally. and at least in this aspect, the u. s. and russia is very,

very similar when there's war on we rally around the flag. russians are any different in that context. at the same time you have to say, pollutant has really cemented his power, his grip on power since 2011. when he came back into power, there isn't a function opposition in russia, most of the opposition leaders have been killed, poisoned or put in prison, and a lot of the more liberal opposition figures and force of the country. so take any of these opinion polls with not disagreeing, but a kilogram of salt, because there isn't that climate in russia that really allows you to voice or opposition, especially when somebody calls up on the phone and says, you know, do support the present most are going to say yes. so yes, there is incredible. even given this war right now. but at the same time, there isn't that culture of descent. the law many russians really speak your mind. well, that brings us to how perkins been selling this war to the paypal a laundry list of false claims, many of which were expecting to hear some version of the game today. and i want to walk through some of them because they can really be seen as

a window you could say into walt peyton's thinking. so let's start with the ukraine is or has been committing genocide against russians because in its own country. well, we're talking about in ukraine, there's actually no evidence of that thus far in this kind of ties in to something the putin has been really supporting for years. know, there are these all whole concepts of risky me or the russian world, or no way to see a new russia. and basically, this has been attempted by the kremlin to claimed dominion over on areas with our russian speaking. people basically saying in her peripheral russia is russia's sphere influence. so if you threaten russians there we have the right to intervene either economically or militarily as well. it's a way of kind of trying to expand their power bases and you know, it's a, it's an attempt to justify the conflict in ukraine at this point. but there is no evidence that there's been massive motions taken against russian speakers there. there has been no widespread violence against them. so it's, it's a claim that just in the face of it is hard to back up with facts. yeah. i've spent

a lot of time in ukraine recently and it surprised me that everyone speaks both languages. it's really ok, some people go up speaking you crying with their family and others russian. but it's, it's very much a at 2 language country that a very much as you have to remember ukraine, ukrainians, and russians. they are the, the brother peoples. they've been talking about that for as long as history assisted me, basically, modern russia actually came out of a kingdom that was loyal to key of originally a 1000 years ago. so, i mean, there isn't really any evidence to indicate that they are, that there is any type of genocide being committed against russian speakers. right . another of buttons claims is that russia is inviting ukraine to d not to fight. we've heard that a lot of this is been idly dumps now, isn't it? can you explain it all very much. so this is a further attempt by the kremlin to d, legitimize the ukrainian government, especially in the context of victory day. i mean, this is what i was talking about a little bit earlier. like, you know, the nazis were the big bad in russian history. right? the word that evil that was trying to destroy the russian people. and by claiming that, you know, modern ukraine has some type of connection to that,

that nazi past you're attempting to demonize and other these other, the ukrainian government, ukrainian people and you know, and the face of it, they have a jewish president. they have a jewish president, i mean a democratically elected jewish president. it's really hard to tell that the claim that the r nazis secretly run into government. and i was actually out with a jewish friend of mine from jeff yesterday. and we were talking about this conflict right here and he said yes, growing up as a child. he did faced some anti semitism on schools and university, but it wasn't any type of government program. it was just that unfortunate baseline anti semitism that you find all over certain parts of europe. at the same time, he said he noticed a massive change as she was growing up and getting older than that. anti semitism started to disappear and he said for him, the election of a limited zalinski was the ultimate sign that he is a jewish ukrainian man. that he was a full fledged member of society there. he said that was the symbol for him. so he completely, as many people just rejects the association and the accusation that there's some type of nazi presence in ukraine. ok,

let's now look at potent allegation that russia isn't waging a war in ukraine and it hasn't committed. these will crimes that have been alleged against them. well, i mean, when it comes to the claim that there isn't a war going on ukraine. i mean, what else is it when there are bombs flying in bullets flying? i mean, just because they haven't officially declared war does not mean that there isn't an armed conflict going on. that's just an attempt to reframe this entire conflict as something that it isn't. and that is a military division. it is a full fledged war. now when it comes to the war crimes that is really counterfactual to the evidence we're seeing like those horrible pictures that we so several weeks going butcher, i mean, we're talking about civilians who were executed. i mean that's, that's hard to debate. we have seen mass graves and we were taught head rape time in nina. we're really saying a lot in that was said, i mean, i think we also need to say that there have been accusations of war crimes on the other side as well. but i think the, the, the gravity of the weight definitely lie, certainly more on the rush,

the side when it comes to the accusations of war crimes. these do need to be investigated. but on the face of it, we have seen the evidence. we have seen that civilians, we have seen the reports as you were saying as well, of torture and rape. so they are definitely being committed. we know this is happening and you know, it's just counterfactual to claim anything otherwise. finally, put in his claim that russia invaded ukraine in order to defend itself from kids and the west. in particular. what, what's the truth there we so far, i've not seen any real evidence of any western aggression against russia. this again goes to the concepts. i was talking about earlier this russian sphere of influence. basically. i mean, you can debate about nato expansion as much as you want. but the only type of aggression that food worthy seems to be worried about is new countries joining nato . there has been no military aggression against the russian federation since it actually existed. and since it was founded, putin has always been concerned about nato expansion. but at the end of the day, what he's attempting to do here is prevent

a democratic sovereign country from determining its own fate. basically saying you're near my country, you're unless you're of influence, i can determine your political future. and that's something that definitely runs counter to basically the international rule of law. and so there is no evidence of russian or sorry, whether western aggression against russia. it's just, it is, again, counterfactual, aren't it before we move on and have a bit more look at the life it has. button has asserted that russia's military operation in ukraine cave is a success. what's the reality there? well, i think the reality is that bruton was a, as they were surprised goodness, military were surprised by the nation tenacious, rather defense that ukrainians have been able to put up basically, all indications are that he was expecting a quick victory. that was supposedly what his intelligence service also promised him. and that's now what we've seen. yes, there been incredible damage to cities like maria pool, but he was expecting to take care of quite quickly and they have not been able to

do that. because just like in afghanistan with both the americans in the soviet forces, you should never underestimate the ability of a country to defend itself if people about defending their homes and their own people. and that's what we've seen here, they put up an incredible resistance ukrainians. i mean against a superior military force and it really seems like russia and pollutant were not prepared for this. just a skin of their teeth defense that we've been seen, the craning people put up. all right, thank you and tell them will be speaking to you much throughout this morning. stay there, but now we're going to head over to your chateau, who's in riga. he's covered the parade from moscow for the last couple of years. eerie, how different is this parade from previous years? all this years parade will not be the same as always, less military equipment is expected to this year than in the rates before. what's also new is that for the 1st time, rebecca russian paratroopers who are currently fighting in ukraine,

are taking part in the parade. a international guest. the russian leadership no, i'm sorry. did they dig through, continue uri with? no, we're going to go to president with commerce. so sergeant, many a officers area, your early general admirals, but i was, i like to congratulate you by the, on the extra day where we defended our homeland deals when you were out of time. when our sate was at stake, yet useless, we had patriotism and we have her back will not what i do attack believe everywhere on the battlefield. we have her for the war in moscow. stalingrad key of course, said the estoppel and how come back

a future and we do the same now though to day with them, but here fighting for our people in the danverse you fighting with all the security of our homeland russia, european, where the 9th of may 1945 is part of our eternal history as the triumph of our united so good people who knew we were just bring your full of spirit and we have won the war. what is it you do or the battlefield and at home? every one. while you were here as a member of the family that say they remember that have for participated in the war . this is a day to day where we are having the parade of the immortal regiment. they remember those people,

their family members fell into bottle fit battlefields and they remember all the war veterans. we are really proud of this generation of you next door. victor. we have for the 2 ti, 2 are remember every one who won over fascism and made sure that the horror of a global war more than not repeat itself again little. and that with russia has always stood out around the nude you leave for an international system of equality . and it is so system that we need to say absolutely in our international community . last year, we've signed a treaty on security guarantee. we have always tried to find compromise solutions and we like to use the curriculum, have every once interest in mind, but this was all in vain. and it shows that sir,

other countries have completely different plans. this is what we're seeing today. or they have 1st tried to attack our historical lily territories, like the crimea they have threatened to you, sir, nuclear war and the waste has so supported these military actions so carried out in our neighborhood. and that is why it was a threat. we couldn't accept when it was a threat directly at our border. everything showed on the dad we are dealing with but their offices, we are dealing with the non nazis and we had to do something about it. let me repeat, we have a ceiling like dark mode, the military infrastructure developed, or we have seen more and more international military advisors coming in to the come to. we have seen that the country was provided with the ministry of modern weapons

and there was a threat that was growing day by day. and we had to do something. we had to do it and we did it. it was the only right solution. we could take it away, but yeah, it was a decision taken by a sovereign and strong country. the youngster, they knew united states of america, especially after the earlier columns of the soviet union, half talked about their exclusive stadium. they have humiliated, not only the whole world, but also there's satellite stays and they have her always done everything they wanted to grow. but we are a different country with russia has a different character. we are not what you're never going to say no to our tradition sir, was to the love of our country and we respect the culture of everyone. we have

a long traditions under the law. we have seen dad stay of tried to. we're very meaning trade, stay memory of the 2nd world war and look for him, it they have for you and you never. we spoke to the heroism of our country, fellow countrymen, when we know that the american veterans stud, wanted to come to the parade in moscow, could not come. they were from lectures to were banned from doing that. but we would like to say we are proud that they, our allies, that they have participated in the victory. we respect the americans, the french, the british that were always part of the war against sanchez. and we're also proud of the chinese people have done the same up all to wind on buffer me over me like fascism to day. so usually yeah, i see liver,

i got those in the don pasadena when i'm off the militia about young and our hebrew hughley your porter. so you'll enjoy standoff. you should in order to defend our territory deck of the we, however many people we should remember and then they are now supporting us in the don. both of them, when you are fighting for of your homeland, you, for the future of our heart of homeland. you are fighting you for the memory of the 2nd world war. never to be forgotten. we're going to utilize punish denazi's jewelry at mueller. and we would like to really make sure that we remember our sons, our daughters, our fathers, mothers, our grandfathers, our husbands, wives, good brothers and sisters, those you, family, on your and friend, lord, good bye. if you want, you know, we,

we of that are also would like to be respectable with those who are friends with us in 2014 them. but we are remember to leave you peaceful people in the don bass hall were killed by the nazis. sonya boulevard buffer you were you, we met that we got laurie also respect trouble, our soldiers who have forgiven their lives in order to defend our homeland russia. let's have

a minute of silence. in honor of all those was very me telling. dear comrades, even garza, we're not sure sold up at yahoo! the days of every soldier an officer of our country. he was only my brother. let of me is. of course a loss for every wanted you on foot families for your state. you the regions d e n t i was in her countries. i'm once

a do everything that can to help or every one. we hail it, especially the children of our wounded and dead soldiers. we have signed as president of this country, a decree to help the soldiers and officers. i also would like to sank their medical personnel of the military hospitals for their dedication for their work. i respect you because you are fighting for every one sly that every one who fights was rumored with all his or her might like roughly today we stand at the red square john rituals by your we stand together. our soldiers has offices coming from all the country, regents of our big country rebel. they are also those with us who have comedy right back from the don bus, from the front line,

whom we remember how the enemies of our country have fed tried to use international terrorism against us. they have for trying to make our country weaker . they have tried to introduce terrorism and enmity, but it did not happen when together we stand as different nationalities. we are brothers, you will see ourselves as brothers. this is the strength of our united multinational state today. defend all these things that you wore a wish for thought for. will it look up all they always wanted to have a safe country, a safe home, and this is what we need to do. we are a successor generation. we have to defend our country and we have to make this country a safe with want those who won a victory over fascism in the 2nd world war is

a simple for us. it would be for ever it's c generation. oh, when i said we're always game compared to them from them, that i see you for them. russia for victory. your'e ah mm. mm.

mm. russian president vladimir putin giving a speech at the v victory day celebrations in russia. the annual event to mark the end of world war 2 and russia's victory in that conflict. aaron tilton is back in the studio with may. eric is a lot to take in. there are what were your main takeaways for more put not to say to the wife on it. really interesting. holly again attempted to a little d, legitimize the ukrainian people and ukrainian government by connecting them illegitimately to some type of nazi past. saying again that this is a direct in to the, this is the soviet union's historic, the struggle against naziism and nazi germany. i mean, as we're seeing earlier that there is, it's a complete baseless claim. but it's a way to demonize and other, these people that they are struggling against, you know, that were previously in one of the, the brother people's in the soviet republic. at the same time, it was interesting to see the framing, basically saying that russia is under attack, it's besieged on all sides. it's. that's not true, of course,

but that is what he's claiming against to his own people, saying that this is about the future of russian. russia's security again, trying to put the onus, do a little bit of victim blaming and blame the ukrainians and the western powers for attacking russia when, of course, that just didn't happen. i also think there was some interesting dog whistles there for international viewers, international audiences. i mean, he did mention global war, he mentioned the prospect of a 3rd world war. so that's definitely not what russia russia wants, but flip it around. that's kind of an indication. and i think a way to try to intimidate some of these western observers, seeing that is something that they are thinking about. you know, also what just seemed another just kind of breathtaking claim to me was the ascertain the, the accusation rather, that western powers 1st threatened to news use nuclear weapons in this conflict. now of course it are, it was very surprised by that. i mean, that has been something that he's been saying for some time, but it was

a breathtaking claim because at the end of the day, while people have said that it might come to the use of a russian tactical nukes in this conflict. of course, i don't believe that's going to happen. i do not believe they're crazy enough to do that by saying that that it hasn't been kremlin spokespeople and proxies who have been talking about that is just a complete. it's a new way to look at reality that just doesn't gel the facts at all. we have been hearing that from, from one proxies for several weeks now. so a lot of breathtaking claims made there that just seem to be completely counterfactual to what we're seeing in the actual conflict and you print right now . yeah, i'm saying that we had to take action. we were being attacked. i mean it's, it's kind of unbelievable that you can go out and say something that clearly we were just talking about it before that completely falsehoods. you know, we were under attack that there was no indication that they were on her and absolutely not. but you have to realize that the security celebration, it seems like what he's attempting to do right now, is really swear his people and get them in line and swear them on a long conflict. i mean, basically what might take away from this is he saying,

look, we're in this from the long run. we're not going to declare a total war, but we're not backing down either. in the seems to be a real attempt to get the russian people to toe that line. and, you know, by saying by, you know, flipping the dynamic around and saying like, look, we're the ones, wonder attack is really kind of playing into this whole media system that they build up. you have to realize there is no real opposition. media in there is no critical media in russia, tv channels, all told them from the line, it's mostly criminal. proxies were showing up there anyway. same thing with most of the newspapers as well. there isn't that free opposition? media, which basically means he has the ability to basically dictate what reality is, at least what the public perception is. and that's what he's doing here. he's basically saying this is the line we're going to go with, and this is the line you can continue to feed the russian people. so for me, this is about swearing, the russian people in for a very, very long conflict, probably move into the winter. well, he succeed, do you think you think he'll get the russian people on board?