While Putin may sometimes surprise, this year he won’t, Bosman thinks. “I think Putin is afraid of ruining a holiday, as it is traditionally, for Russians. He won’t want to do it.’
It doesn’t matter that Putin’s rhetoric will be no different from that of the past six months. “We are at war with NATO, with the West, the survival of the Russian state is in danger, and therefore we must prepare for a long war. In fact he has been doing it for six months in his speeches about him: preparing people to suffer even more. He doesn’t have much else to offer.’
Safety
The festivities are accompanied by ever so strict security measures. According to Bosman, three presidents of the former Soviet republics will take part in the ceremonies and Putin himself will also be in Red Square. Reason for stricter controls. Bosman points out that the Russian authorities are trying to make it difficult for drones to navigate, as evidenced by the fact that taxi navigation no longer works.
“I think Putin is afraid of ruining a vacation for Russians”
Bosman notes that the atmosphere is different from other years. While some Russians still think Ukraine should enter with an even longer leg, others have doubts. The correspondent spoke to people who always celebrated the day because they could then tell their children that there would never be another war, “and now everything is happening again.” What should they tell their children?’
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