Putin announces no new escalation anticipated on Victory Day

Vladimir Putin exhorted Russians to battle in a defiant Victory Day speech on Monday, but was silent about plans for any escalation in Ukraine, despite Western warnings he might use the event in Red Square to order a national mobilisation. 

Monday’s annual Victory Day celebration in Moscow - with the usual parade of ballistic missiles and tanks was easily the most closely watched of its kind since the 1945 defeat of the Nazis that it celebrates. 
Western capitals had openly speculated for weeks that Putin was driving his forces to try to achieve something he could describe as victory in time for the symbolic date - and with few gains so far, might instead announce a national call-up for war. 
In his speech Putin,did neither, but repeated his assertions that Russian forces in Ukraine were again fighting Nazis.

“You are fighting for the Motherland, for its future, so that no one forgets the lessons of World War Two. So that there is no place in the world for executioners, castigators and Nazis,” he said. 
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in his own speech to mark the day, promised Ukrainians they would defeat the invasion. 

“On the Day of Victory over Nazism, we are fighting for a new victory. The road to it is difficult, but we have no doubt that we will win,” he said adding-in clear reference to Putin, “The one who is repeating the horrific crimes of Hitler’s regime today, following Nazi philosophy, copying everything they did - he is doomed.”
KYIV, Ukraine, May 9 (Reuters)