Along with the 1812 defeat of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, the crushing of Nazi Germany is Russia’s most revered military victory, although both devastating invasions from the west left Russia deeply sensitive about its western borders.
“We want to see a peaceful, free and stable future,” Putin said. He said that monuments to Soviet soldiers are being destroyed in many countries.
“We have repelled international terrorism, we will protect the residents of Donbass (in eastern Ukraine), we will ensure our own security,” Putin said.
He did not address the challenges facing Russia as its military prepares for the major counteroffensive expected by Ukraine, or outline any path to victory.