Freshly reinstated for his fifth term at the head of the Russian Federation, President Vladimir Putin honoured the Soviet soldiers who fell in the Second World War, a speech that was closely scrutinised as usual

During his speech on Red Square for the military parade on 9 May, when tensions linked to the conflict in Ukraine were palpable, Putin stressed that Russia’s strategic nuclear forces were always ready to act.

‘Russia will do everything possible to avoid a global confrontation. However, we will not tolerate threats. Our strategic nuclear forces remain on alert”, he said. The parade was attended by more than 9,000 military personnel, according to the Russian media, as well as armoured vehicles, missile launchers and aircraft.

Amid a growing rift with the West, Putin recently ordered tactical nuclear exercises involving troops deployed near Ukraine in response to what he sees as Western ‘threats’ against Russia.

On Thursday, he accused the West of wanting to ‘forget the lessons’ of the Second World War and reaffirmed Moscow’s rejection of any claim to exclusivity on the part of any government or alliance. He also stressed, as in his inauguration speech this week, that Russia is going through a ‘difficult period’ as it engages in a conflict with Ukraine.