Vladimir Putin has been accused of preparing for a major war with NATO within just one year of ending the current conflict in Ukraine. This warning comes from Vice-Admiral Peter Reesink, the head of Dutch military intelligence, who believes that Russia is producing far more weapons than it needs for the war in Ukraine and may be getting help from other countries to do so.
He also said that Russia is now moving heavy weapons, including artillery, closer to NATO borders such as the Baltic states and Finland, which he sees as a clear sign of military buildup.
This warning was issued during one of the biggest military parades Moscow has seen in recent times. The parade, held on Victory Day to mark the 80th anniversary of defeating Nazi Germany, showed off Russia’s latest weapons, including tanks, nuclear missile carriers, and deadly drones.
President Putin used the event to show the world that Russia is still strong and ready for anything. Chinese President Xi Jinping was also there, standing beside Putin during the parade, showing continued support.
There are concerns that Russia is becoming increasingly dependent on a war-driven economy and might not be able to stop even if it wanted to. Some military experts believe Putin sees constant military action as necessary for holding power and keeping his economy running.
To add to the controversy, it’s been reported that Russia used special Soviet-era technology to control the weather for the parade. Planes released a chemical mixture into the clouds to force rain to fall outside of Moscow, so that Red Square would remain dry for the celebration. This trick has been used before to ensure perfect parade conditions.
In a luxurious dinner before the parade, Putin reportedly served wine taken from Crimea—a region Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014—to President Xi and other guests. This was seen by some as a symbolic move, flaunting his control over Ukrainian territory.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, who wants to return to the White House, has increased pressure on both sides to agree to a peace deal. He demanded a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, which Ukraine has already accepted but Russia has not. Trump said that if Russia does not agree, the United States and its allies will apply even more sanctions. He stressed that too many young soldiers are dying each week and that the killing must stop.
Trump’s Vice President, JD Vance, also spoke out against Putin, saying Russia is asking for too much in the peace talks and cannot expect to claim land it hasn’t even captured. He said this kind of demand was included in Russia’s original peace proposal and was completely unrealistic.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had a positive conversation with Trump, during which they discussed the current situation on the battlefield. Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready for peace talks and wants the fighting to end immediately. But he made it clear that for any negotiations to happen, Russia must prove it’s serious by agreeing to a full and unconditional ceasefire. He said Trump supports this idea and has promised to help bring about peace.
China released a statement after Xi’s talks with Putin saying that Russia is open to peace talks with no conditions. However, the statement also emphasized that Russia’s “security concerns” must be taken seriously, showing clear sympathy toward Moscow’s position.
At the same time, while the Russian parade was going on, leaders from the European Union were in Ukraine, discussing how to hold Russian leaders accountable for war crimes. EU diplomats announced that they plan to set up a special court to investigate and prosecute Putin and other top officials for their actions in the war. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said that real peace supporters shouldn’t be standing next to Putin at a parade, but should instead be standing with the people of Ukraine.
In addition to the legal measures, the EU also approved a major new aid package to support Ukraine’s defense and recovery.
The world now watches closely, as powerful nations take sides and the threat of even larger war continues to loom if peace isn’t reached soon.
