Putin Vows Ukraine Defeat as He Hails WWII Stalingrad Triumph

President Vladimir Putin warned the US and its allies they can’t defeat Russia, rallying domestic support for his invasion of Ukraine in a speech marking a key victory in World War II.

“Those who expect to win a victory against Russia on the battlefield don’t understand that modern-day war with Russia will turn out totally differently for them,” he said at a concert on Thursday in Volgograd, which had been temporarily renamed Stalingrad for the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi forces there. “We aren’t sending tanks to their borders but we have the means to fight back and they won’t be limited to armor. Everyone should understand this.”

As Putin’s invasion drags toward its second year, the Kremlin, seeking to shore up public support for the widening war effort, has increasingly sought to portray it as a fight against attempts by the US and its allies to subdue Russia. Ukraine’s supporters have been careful to avoid a direct conflict with Moscow’s forces, though they are steadily stepping up supplies of weapons. Kyiv has said repeatedly its aim is to oust Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.

The battle of Stalingrad, a decisive moment in what in Russia is known as the “Great Patriotic War,” remains a powerful national symbol. The fighting lasted for more than six months, costing nearly two million lives on both sides, and ended in the surrender of German forces.

“German tanks are threatening us again, Leopards, with crosses on board,” Putin said, referring to plans by European countries to deliver Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

Last year, Ukrainian forces succeeded in wresting back control of part of the territory seized by Russia since last February’s invasion, including the southern city of Kherson. Russia, whose first win in six months was the costly capture of a small town, is now incurring more casualties in a bid to seize the nearby city of Bakhmut.

Russia illegally annexed four Ukrainian regions in September, despite only controlling them partly, and almost immediately began losing ground.

--------

Bloomberg Quicktake brings you global social video spanning business, technology, politics and culture. Make sense of the stories changing your business and your world.

Connect with us on…

[celticman]

It's not1942/43. Those Russians officers in that audience know this. They have to make a move.

[KnivesOfTheRound]

Russia is no closer to victory in Ukraine than they were on Feb. 24th. Quite the opposite.

[smhs]

"Ukrainian soil" exactly as Putin just said, not his

[dreadlegend]

"We aren't sending our tanks to their borders, we have to wait till our squirrels and gerbils are big enough to power them."

[JoseTorres-ryqe]

I'm surprised they didn't applaud for 10 minutes straight.

[arthaschen]

It’s settled: the parallel universe theory is real

[blrrich]

It's been too long since the last war. People are starting to worry about inflation, retirement, and debts. this war will keep us busy for a while. governments might have lied about other wars, but they would never lie about this one. this will be the war that finally brings us peace.

[jeffmeyers]

And you are destroying your own people.

[swsjr]

Sacrilege to those who fought, defended, and died at Stalingrad. The most important battle of WWII.

[Foreign]

People forget: Russia is not the Soviet Union. The Union had Ukraine. 👌

[saltylegion]

The battle of Stalingrad will always be remembered. Amazing and sad at the same time with all the Russian sacrifices made to defeat the Nazis. That was a crazy battle!

[reccesam]

Except this time.. Russia is who invaded first.

[micah]

Weird analogy since this is a "special military action" and not a war lol. Pepperidge Farms remembers.

[PoGirlShines]

We all know that these "wars" are never what they seem.

[l.a.]

Sometimes it's better to remember the past, than to try and relive it. Or, re-die in it.

[RequiemJr]

Russia had the worst kill death ratio in WW2. Literally at the bottom of the leaderboards.

[augustwest]

Everyone creates Joy, Some wherever they go.
Others, whenever they go.

[sabprogroup]

if he is taking deep breaths and pauses that means shit is abt to go down.

[milos_mladenovic]

USSR's victory at Stalingrad happened only because they had major support from the US and other allies at the time, just like Ukraine has today. Russia is losing this war for sure.

[GhostJumpGaming]

Hold up. Did he just say the germans are fighting them on ukrainian soil???? So he admits it's not russian soil. I'm shocked.