Vladimir Putin has refuted rumors of an impending coup amidst a scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow, Russia. The Kremlin has acknowledged increased security measures for Putin but dismissed coup allegations as baseless.
Due to the current operational situation, the annual Victory Day parade on Moscow’s Red Square, commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany, will not feature any military equipment, as confirmed by the Russian Defence Ministry.
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a three-day ceasefire mediated by the US, following recent Ukrainian strikes inside Russia. The ceasefire, initiated by President Donald Trump’s request, is seen as a sign of Putin’s vulnerability and diminishing power.
The ceasefire, scheduled from Saturday to Monday, marks a potential turning point in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. President Trump expressed optimism that this ceasefire could lead to the eventual resolution of the long-standing war.
Despite heightened security around Putin during the Victory Day parade, reports of an internal coup plot have been dismissed by Russian officials. New security measures have been implemented, including a peculiar directive for officials not to wear watches in Putin’s presence.
Volodymyr Zelensky’s decree ensuring that Ukrainian drones and missiles would not disrupt the parade allowed the event to proceed without security concerns. Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov asserted Russia’s autonomy in staging the parade after Zelensky’s intervention.
Putin’s agreement to extend the ceasefire, as proposed by the US, is seen as a sign of his weakened position, according to sources. The temporary halt in hostilities, brokered by Trump, signifies a shift in Putin’s approach to the conflict with Ukraine.
This year’s Victory Day parade, typically a display of Russia’s military might and support for the war in Ukraine, will notably exclude heavy weaponry for the first time in nearly twenty years, except for a traditional flyover of combat jets.
