Don't blame me, I voted for the other guy. (Politics General)

Speaking at a military parade commeorating the Soviet Victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, President Putin drew parallels between the Red Army’s fighting against Nazi troops and ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

In his speech, he said: “Our duty is to preserve the memory of those who defeated Nazism. Who gave us what they have to be alert, to make sure that the horror of a global war will never be repeated. And that’s why despite all the differences in international relations, Russia has always been for the creation of security, equal and reliable security that’s needed by the whole community.

“In December last year, we proposed to make a treaty. Non security guarantees Russia called for a search for a compromise solution that was in vain need the country for the world to hear us and this means that in reality, they had quite different plans. And we saw that they were openly preparing another punitive operation in the past.

“So an aggression against our historical lands, including Crimea, calls in key about the possible acquisition of nuclear weapons, the NATO alliance began to move troops into our neighbouring territories and they were creating an unacceptable threat to us right across borders… The danger grew every day. And Russia delivered a preemptive strike against the aggressor that was a forced timely and the only correct decision. The decision of a sovereign, strong and independent country.”

President Putin did not take the opportunity to officially declare war on Ukraine or a full mobilisation of the Russian military.

Instead, he closed his speech with a rallying cry to the assembled soldiers in Red Square, saying: “Those who defeated Nazism during the Great Patriotic War showed us an example of heroism for all times. This is the generation of victims and you will always take the example of glory to our glorious armed forces.

“For Russia, for victory, hooray.”