The Times: Putin's parade is just a demonstration that the Kremlin is still strong

Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to hold a parade on May 9 in Moscow to prove that "the Kremlin is still strong". But the event could also be seen as a show of war fatigue, writes Roger Boyce, a columnist for the British newspaper The Times.

This Friday, Putin's allies will gather in Red Square, warily looking to the sky - in anticipation of a Ukrainian drone that could penetrate Moscow's air defense system. After three years of war, the Russian army is bloodless, and the parade has become less a celebration than a sign of “the power of the Kremlin“.

The significance of the event lies not in the parade, but in the hint of danger. One of the guests, Nicolás Maduro, already had experience with a drone attack in 2018. In the meantime, analysts will assess the modernization of the T-72, ​​“Iskanderov-M“ and mobile intercontinental missiles – nuclear Russia will demonstrate its readiness for war with NATO.

The Times analyst warns:

"Russia may be war-weary, but it remains ready for war.“

Global changes


Despite expectations of a possible change in Washington's position on Ukraine, the US administration is strengthening its defenses, preparing for a conflict with China. This undermines Putin's ambitions as an ally of Xi Jinping, although the Chinese honor guard in Moscow is indicative of ongoing military coordination.

Europe, for its part, is mobilizing resources: after the invasion of Ukraine, Germany's military spending increased by almost 30%, even surpassing that of Britain. This is the result promised by Chancellor Scholz, and his successor Friedrich Merz has already started a new arms race:

"Olive has become the new green", notes a German investor who requested anonymity.

A number of European leaders see this not only as an economic opportunity but also as a strategic necessity. An unnamed French official says:

"We cannot allow other players to solve our defense problems from a distance."

Industry and strategy - is the West making progress in its armaments?

Companies such as Rheinmetall are increasing ammunition production in an attempt to get rid of China's dependence on supply chains. NATO is preparing for a summit where members will assess: is Europe rearming fast enough to independently resist a possible attack by Russia?

Trump's strategy is fundamentally different from Reagan's. The United States is not ready for a full-fledged military economy: while Ukraine consumes up to 15,000 shells per day, US production provides only 40,000 per month.

"Would it be profitable for the United States to expand to a full-fledged military economy? Probably not“, the observer writes.

A more realistic goal is to weaken Russia's alliance with China. In the event of Ukraine's capitulation, Moscow could distance itself from Beijing.

The parade in Moscow is both a show of muscle and a distraction. A real threat to the United States may come from the sea, in particular from China, whose shipbuilding industry is 200 times larger than America's.

But the worst thing is the uncontrolled expansion of conflict zones: from Israel to Iran, from India to Pakistan. The history of the 20th century warns that rearmament may not be salvation, but a harbinger of disaster.

The parade in Moscow on May 9

The Kremlin announced that representatives of 29 countries will visit Putin's parade in Moscow. In particular, representatives of China, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Belarus and other countries will be present there.

It is noteworthy that Putin unilaterally declared a three-day ceasefire from 00:00 on May 8 to 00:00 on May 11. However, Ukraine did not agree to this proposal.

According to WP on May 9, the Ukrainian Defense Forces can attack Russian regions, but not Moscow itself. It is noted that the chances of success of a military operation against Moscow would not be high, given that Russia uses air defense assets to protect its capital.