Vladimir Putin appeared in front of a crowd waving flags at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium the day after making a speech on the status of the nation to the Russian parliament.
It was a terrifying sight. The Kremlin leader effectively presided over a military pep rally intended to rally the populace behind his disastrous military venture in Ukraine.
In reference to February 23, also known as Men’s Day, Putin remarked, “We are meeting with you on the eve of Defender of the Fatherland Day. “There is something strong, vast, I would say, mystical and sacred, in this sentence, in these words.”
In other words, Putin was presenting his conflict in Ukraine as a kind of crusade that would necessitate the sacrifice of his people.
At the ceremony, Putin declared that Russia was fighting for its “historical” borders.
At the ceremony, Putin declared that Russia was fighting for its “historical” borders.
Reuters/Mikhail Metzel/Sputnik
The Russian president, flanked by uniformed military officers, joined the crowd in applauding the soldiers who he claimed were defending the “historical frontiers of our people,” his fanciful term for the regions of Ukraine that Russia has wanted to acquire but has been unable to take control of.
We have indeed convened here for a joyful occasion, but as I just heard from the country’s highest military leadership, there is currently a war taking place on our historical borders for our people, Putin remarked. The same valiant fighters who are currently standing next to us here are leading it. They battle valiantly, fiercely, and fearlessly. We are pleased with them. Three cheers for them because we are proud of them!
