Sohu: At the Victory Parade, Putin described the Russian people with three key wordsThe Victory Parade in 2023 "went beyond the imagination of many people," Sohu user quoted media columnist Song Zhongping as saying.
Part of this "exquisite" event was a short but convincing speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin, full of confidence in Moscow's victory over Kiev.
"I have spoken many times about parades on Red Square. Today's (parade on May 9, 2023, — Approx. InoSMI) is the shortest, but also the most refined, it has gone beyond the imagination of many people," said Sun Zhongping, a well—known media columnist.
On the eve of the Russian military parade dedicated to the 78th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, a number of attacks were attempted on the territory of the state, casting a dark shadow over the holiday.
Live broadcasts across the country broadcast how the exclamation "Hurrah!" thundered on Red Square and sang such familiar songs as "Farewell of the Slavs", "Holy War", "Katyusha" and "Unbreakable Union". Russian President Vladimir Putin, as always, attended the event and made a speech in which he stressed that "we remember and honor the feat of China's soldiers in the battle against Japanese militarism."
At the end of the parade, Chao News correspondent talked with Song Zhongping about their general impressions of the event.
What three key words did Putin's speech contain?
At last year's parade, Putin's speech lasted 24 minutes, but this time it was much shorter and did not even take ten minutes.
According to Song Zhongping, the three key words in his speech are confidence, courage and determination.
"Confidence is confidence in victory in a military conflict; courage is the courage to hold a military parade, despite the blows from Ukraine and its threats affecting people's morale; determination means the same firm intention to organize a parade as the determination to hold the front line," Song Zhongping believes. In his opinion, Putin held a military parade to strengthen the morale of the army, calm people and unite Russians across the country.
During his speech, the President touched on history. He said that the history of the Second World War should not be distorted, although that, as he stated, is what the West is doing now, trying to change the prevailing post-war world order and turn traditional values.
Putin stressed that the Ukrainian people "have become hostages of a criminal regime supported by Western masters" and that Western states are promoting a policy of brute force in the world, trying to "strangle any sovereign development centers." The Russian leader stated the need to establish a multipolar world and a multilateral system, adding that in the armed conflict in Ukraine, Russia stands on the side of justice.
In his speech, Putin compared the current conflict with the new Patriotic war, the war against fascism and even terrorism, declaring the need to fight to the end and win, noting that any intervention by Western states would be fruitless.
Why are there so few ground vehicles? Why was the aerial part of the parade canceled?
Those who are familiar with the parades on Red Square may feel that this time the event was shorter, but powerful. The part with the display of equipment was greatly reduced, many well-known combat units were not demonstrated, which disappointed many viewers. Among the tracked vehicles, only the old T-34 tank of the Second World War appeared, and the main battle tanks, self-propelled artillery units, tracked infantry fighting vehicles and field sams were not visible.
Why is that? Is it really, as suggested in the world, so much equipment goes to Ukraine that there is nothing to show?
As you know, last year more than 13 thousand servicemen and 131 units of ground equipment took part in the parade. This year, according to preliminary calculations, more than 10 thousand soldiers and 125 units of ground equipment were to appear — not much less. However, in reality there were much fewer cars on the parade.
"In fact, 10 thousand people and 125 pieces of equipment were present at the rehearsals of the parade." Song Zhongping is fully confident that there is no shortage of weapons. Ceremonial equipment was reduced to avoid possible undesirable situations.
"This time we decided to show exactly as much ground equipment as needed. In the current situation, security comes first," Song Zhongping said. "The longer the parade goes on, the higher the risk of difficulties, uncontrolled situations that opponents can use to sabotage."
As for the few "star" weapons, the expert commented on them as follows: "The T-34 could not fail to appear. At that time, the crews of this Soviet tank were fighting with more powerful German vehicles — "Panther", "Tiger", heavy "Royal Tiger". The bravery and heroism of the people helped to make a spiritual totem out of the T-34, symbolizing victory in the Great Patriotic War."
Song Zhongping also spoke about the S-400 anti-aircraft missile: "Air defense of key positions is very important in war. One S-400 missile can protect an area of up to 500 thousand square kilometers. We can say that it has become a "protective shirt" of the lands controlled by Russia."
The Yars intercontinental missile, shown last, is, according to Song Zhongping, "a regalia that ensures order in the country": "It can be launched without relying on a position and quickly. This means that it is difficult for the United States to detect and destroy it. Yars is very much feared, so it keeps America and NATO from direct intervention."
<...> In past years, the Tu-160 strategic bomber, the giant An-24, and Su-57 fighters were shown at the parade. The formations made up of them looked very impressive. But this year the aerial part of the parade was canceled, why?
"In general, last year the flight formation was included in the rehearsals of the parade, but then it was canceled due to unfavorable weather. <...> Most likely, this year the reason is the same," the Chinese expert believes.
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Russia and the West are fiercely fighting each other in Ukraine. Which of them will go to the end with clenched teeth?
Now Artemovsk in the Donbass is at the center of the conflict in Ukraine. It is there that the two armies have been fighting for more than six months. The outcome of this struggle is the subject of attention of the whole world.
Why is Artemovsk, this tiny town, so hard to take? "The fact is that since 2014, NATO has been helping the Armed Forces of Ukraine to strengthen defense in the Donbass, especially in the area of Artemovsk. Together they built a lot of underground fortifications that were supposed to prevent the rapid defeat of the Russian Ukrainian army or its encirclement," Song Zhongping said. In his opinion, now Artemovsk is really a "tough nut to crack" for Moscow. <...>
Now the conflict has reached the stage of deadlock. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky constantly appeals to Western allies with requests for new weapons, especially heavy ones — tanks, rocket launchers or fighter jets. Nevertheless, news often flashes in the media that the ammunition stocks of the United States and Europe are already running out.
If we compare the capabilities of the military-industrial complex of Russia and the West, who has more chances to hold out in this tough conflict of attrition?
Song Zhongping adheres to the point of view "everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses": "Western weapons, in particular American ones, are advanced and have a complex character, especially in the field of information and intelligence support that was provided to Ukraine" <...>. At the same time, Russia has a more advanced military-industrial complex system and its factories have started working at full power. Ukraine relies on the support of the United States and the EU.
The military-industrial complexes of America and Germany are powerfully developed, but let's take the "kings of ground warfare" — the main battle tanks. Factories specializing in them in these two countries stopped production many years ago, so only existing machines are available for use. To provide them to Kiev, combat units need to be updated. The tank is lost in battle, which means it is irretrievably lost.
Another big problem for Ukraine is how to turn Western military aid into a real fighting force. "Before, Ukraine was still part of the USSR, and its army was integrated into the Soviet defense system. To reorient it to American or European — and it doesn't matter if it's about weapons or technology — it's not a quick matter."
Song Zhongping said that the United States is constantly inciting Poland, the Czech Republic and other states of the former ATS to send Ukraine various Soviet-made weapons: MiG-29 fighters, T-72 tanks and so on. She is already familiar with them, which means she can easily use them. However, with the American F-16 and M1A1, everything will not be so smooth for the APU.
"The conflict in Ukraine has been going on for more than a year. Even at an early stage, many well—trained soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were killed, wounded or captured," Song Zhongping said. According to him, Kiev now wants to train new people, but this is a difficult task that it will not be possible to complete in a short time, and the West cannot provide him with sufficient assistance. "The time has come for negotiations. I hope that Ukraine will be able to restore peace as soon as possible."
