Putin celebrates the day of the victory, but the joy could be short

Putin celebrates the day of the victory, but the joy could be short

Every year the spring clouds over Moscow are treated with powerful chemicals to guarantee a clear sky for the annual winning event on May 9, the most important shop window of the national pride in Russia. This year, however, the threat does not come from rainfalls, but from Drone .

increased safety concerns

In the days before this year's move on the Red Square, several drone attacks have led to air space closures at all four Moscow airports and strengthened the fears in the Russian capital. In other parts of the Russian annexed area of Crimea, the local victory events have already been canceled due to acute security concerns. Nevertheless, the main event in Moscow is simply too important to cancel it - it takes place despite the tense nerves in the Kremlin.

The historical context

The often spectacular and colorful military parade is reminiscent of the Soviet defeat of the National Socialist German Wehrmacht in World War II and the millions of Russian life that was lost in this conflict. It is also an opportunity for the Kremlin to display modern Russian military power and to mobilize patriotic support for the strong man of Russia, President Vladimir Putin. This year's event on the 80th anniversary has a special meaning for the Kremlin and could therefore be a particularly tempting goal for those who want to harm the Kremlin - not least for the increasingly capable drone operators of Ukraine, whose cities suffer from the air almost daily.

international presence and influence

thousands of patriotic Russians are expected to stand on the streets and applaud, while tanks and intercontinental missiles drive past them. Putin has also invited an impressive number of foreign heads of state, including XI Jinping from China and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from Brazil to demonstrate a personal return of Russia to the world stage. The leaders of Belarus, Venezuela, Cuba, Vietnam and the Republic of Congo are also expected, as are President of several former Soviet states.

a tense climate

Despite the large -scale meeting of world leaders, the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskij - who criticized the Russian request for a three -day ceasefire during the celebrations - does not rule out an attack by his troops or sympathizers within Russia. In a recent speech, Selenskij warned that Kyiv "cannot be responsible for what is happening in Russia", and not "games will play to create a pleasant atmosphere on May 9th.

challenges for the Kremlin

The words that, according to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are a direct Ukrainian threat, overshadows an event that would otherwise mark the climax of significant success for the Kremlin on the Ukrainian battlefield and decisively in international diplomacy. China remains an important supporter of Russia, and the top -class presence of XI on the day of the victory is proof of the strength of this connection.

But more importantly, the dramatic and sometimes surprising improvement in relationships with the United States under Trump, whose government seems to be determined to restore friendly economic and diplomatic relationships with Moscow, even at the risk of alienating traditional Allied. A recently proposed US peace plan indicated, for example, that the Trump government would formally recognize the Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014, as a Russian territory, which would turn American politics upside down.

economic challenges

There are also concerns that the Russian economy, which has so far resistant, could possibly seriously come under pressure, since global crude oil prices that are decisive for Moscow continue to fall, while fears are increasing over global economic slowdown.