Zelensky Again Steps Down From Ledge as Russian V-Day Parade Predictably Proceeds as Planned
The Moscow Victory Day Parade has come and gone without a hitch. Zelensky got the call from Trump, and was brought immediately to heel after spending a week talking tough and insinuating Ukraine could ruin Russia’s sacred memorial.
In reality, Russia struck Ukraine at will during Zelensky’s own trivially unilateral “ceasefire” announced a day earlier, meant to upstage and preempt the Moscow V-Day celebrations. But during Russia’s parade, Zelensky learned his place and did not attempt to bring doom to his own troubled reign—particularly after Russia released a timely surveillance video taken via suspected Gerbera drone directly over the Verkhovna Rada in Kiev:
The message was clear: Russian drones are directly observing Kiev and can strike the Ukrainian government at will, at any time. That being quite interesting, it should be noted, given that we’re repeatedly told Patriot batteries in Kiev are swatting down hypersonic Kinzhals like flies, but a slow-moving medium-range drone is able to dance all over the government’s most secure and sensitive sites?
The parade this year was of course a shadow of its former self, with only marching columns and no heavy hardware as has been customary since the end of WWII. And despite Ukraine’s humiliating obeisance, the pro-Ukrainian commentariat has been in ecstasies of finger-pointing jubilation, scraping up every possible speck of criticism that can be attributed to their long-standing dream of Russia’s downfall.
In fact, in recent weeks the entire Western crowd has been utterly reduced to drunken wish-casting and crystal-gazing, dredging up every last dried morsel of questionable gossip in attempt to stir the narrative that “something has dramatically shifted in Russia”.
Generating endless PR micro-spasms of Russia’s coming demise is all they are left with at a time when Ukraine has virtually no other positive prospects to hang a hat on.
The past few weeks have seen a coordinated campaign meant to drive this new initiative. The message being pushed is invariably: Putin’s Russia has passed a point of no return. Various unfounded rumors of “Kremlin coup plots” and other cartoon intrigues are floated daily by unabashed propagandists. It has hearkened back to the time of Cold War “Kremlinology”, wherein the study of the internal machinations at the heart of Russia’s political power center was a kind of insider’s supernatural spirit-session. It’s ironic that such laughable imperatives have been staked at a time when two separate shootings near the White House were recorded in the span of a week.
It is true that Putin’s approval rating has recently dipped, at least according to some sources.
The approval of Putin's activities has dropped to 66.7%, while the level of personal trust in Vladimir Putin stands at 72.0%. "United Russia" retains its leadership status, but its rating has fallen to 27.3%.
Meanwhile, "New People" have increased their support to 12.4%, outpacing the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (10.9%) and the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (10.8%) and "A Just Russia" (5.2%).
Much of it, though, has to do with recent very unpopular governmental restrictions on messengers like Telegram, Whatsapp, the banning of YouTube and other such Western social medias. While it is still indicative, it does not correlate to waning support for the SMO or other overriding Putin initiatives, as deliberately construed by the professional anti-Russian disinfo class. In fact, above you can see that the “New People” party has taken second place with the dip in Putin’s “United Russia”. The New People party is in support of the SMO and most of the Kremlin’s other initiatives, but is focused more on appealing to the younger market-minded demographic, as a kind of centrist party.
The WaPo piece posted above writes:
In recent weeks, Putin’s approval rating fell to its lowest level since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to VCIOM, the state-controlled polling firm. A chorus of other voices have started speaking out against the government’s handling of the economy and the internet rules, which are set to tighten ahead of Moscow’s annual Victory Day parade on Saturday as jitters mount about Ukrainian drone attacks.
So, Putin’s approval has fallen to 2022 levels. In reality, Putin’s approval rating has historically swung up and down, and has never remained consistently high. From the official Levada bureau:
As can be seen, he had dipped into the 60s percentage points in 2005, then swung up, only to dip to around 60% in 2013 again. After another soaring period above 80%, he swung near 60% for several years in the early 2020s, before the onset of the SMO again shot his popularity skyward. What we can deduce is that these are regular cyclical events that only the most desperate Russophobic diviners and bone-casters could possibly try to twist into a doomsaying ritual on Putin’s future.
The Russian Telegram channel Lawyer of the South wrote a balanced missive on this artificial mass hysteria surrounding the putatively ‘deteriorating’ Russian condition, which hits all the right notes:
In recent times, public sentiment has become more tense.
There are reasons for this. The inconveniences arising from internet restrictions, the contradictory statements of various deputies, and economic measures have been particularly acutely perceived in recent months.
Against this backdrop, attacks on infrastructure and various provocative statements by Kiev terrorists are even more nerve-wracking.
However, if we look at the situation without emotion, there has not been any radical deterioration of the situation that would warrant such a reaction.
Russia is waging a tough war against the West. In this situation, Kiev terrorists act as a living force, not an independent political subject.
It should be understood that our opponents are having a much harder time than we are. The state of Ukraine will cease to exist under the current circumstances. It has long been a corpse that lives only on external support. As soon as this support ends, this quasi-state will collapse.
Only the collapse of Russia could save it, which is only likely in the event of our internal disintegration and the sentiments that have been actively trying to destabilize us since 2022.
Europe has staked everything on this collapse, and its future literally depends on whether we will "help" them, repeating the scenarios of 1917 or 1991.
That's why our society needs to pull itself together, calm down, and focus not on contradictions, but on supporting our guys on the front and in the rear.
Yes, there are problems in Russia, and they need to be addressed in order to solve them. Do it calmly and in a working order.
It's only up to us whether we will win, and only we ourselves can lead our country to defeat and collapse.
Society should focus on victory and stand firm.
Otherwise, we will betray the memory of those who are no longer with us. Who died so that we and our children could live, for our Victory. We cannot let them down.
It’s remarkable how many of the same propaganda notes are recycled by Western press for both Russia and Iran. In the earlier WaPo piece, Putin is described as being increasingly “isolated” and secluded in a series of “bunkers”, with previous insiders unable to reach him. If you took away the name, it would read almost identically to a recent description of newly-risen Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who is relentlessly mystiqued by the same outlets as unreachable and remote.
Of course, new reports have completely refuted this, finding the young Khamenei fully and coherently in-charge of the country. The sudden reversal only casts light on the same tired tactics now employed against Putin in the Regime’s ceaseless quest to foment the same type of “internal turmoil” within Russia which it humiliatingly failed to spark in Iran.
For now, all Ukraine and its psyop stooges are left with are their soiled mattresses and the fevered dreams which keep them up all night in manic swoons. The latest ‘masterpiece’ which served as orgiastic pity-feast on their networks today leaves little more to be said, but serves as a reminder of the disconnect from reality that now embodies adherents of the failing No-State and its spineless leader, who once again backed down from his feeble threats:
Your support is invaluable. If you enjoyed the read, I would greatly appreciate if you subscribed to a monthly/yearly pledge to support my work, so that I may continue providing you with detailed, incisive reports like this one.
Alternatively, you can tip here: buymeacoffee.com/Simplicius
It was a total catastrophe for Russia today, caused by its own "leader".
First, ceded the initiative completely. What happened over the last few days:
1) Zelensky makes threats against Moscow. On the territory of a traditional Russian ally, and a very short distance away from a major Russian military bases. He should not have made it alive out of Armenia, but is once again not touched.
2) The Russian MoD feels compelled to finally issue a specific threat of retaliation; but one that only concerns a very specific attack on Russia, thus making all other attacks OK somehow.
3) The Ukro-NATO-Nazis proceed to launch one of their most massive drone and missile attacks all over Russia in the days just before May 9th. Perm, Yaroslavl, Rostov, Moscow suburbs, etc. places get hit. There is no response
4) Then Trump steps in with a proposal for a ceasefire for a couple days
5) Zelensky magnanimously "allows" Russia to have its parade.
6) Ushakov praises Trump for being a peacemaker.
End result? Russia's position has deteriorated further:
1) Russia itself has once again established Trump as a "neutral peacemaker". Same guy who just sent Ukraine thousands of JDAM-ERs.
2) Zelensky was once again not touched at all, and exited the situation effectively in a superior position to Putin.
3) Russia was bombed mercilessly for days, and did not respond at all
4) Russia itself shifted its red/brown lines to "don't bomb the parade", but everything else is apparently OK.
To top it all off, then Putin made a series of absolutely catastrophic statements later in the day. Let's quote them:
https://t.me/ramzayiegokomanda/42274
>Putin believes the Ukrainian conflict is nearing an end, according to TASS.
>Putin stated that the decision to withdraw Russian troops from Kyiv in the spring of 2022 was made following a request from the French president.
>"Macron called me in 2022 and said that Ukraine cannot sign documents in Istanbul 'with a gun to its head,' and asked me to withdraw troops from Kyiv," Putin stated.
https://t.me/ramzayiegokomanda/42276
>Vladimir Putin is ready to meet with Zelenskyy not only in Moscow but also in a third country, but this time to sign an agreement. The Russian president announced this at a press conference in the Kremlin. The key points were summarized:
>— The conflict in Ukraine is nearing an end.
>— Russia is ready for negotiations with Ukraine and is not opposed to US mediation.
>— Trump, according to Putin, spoke "very honorably" about May 9 and supported the idea of a ceasefire.
>— Russia is ready to talk with any EU representative who "has not said nasty things" about Moscow.
>— Putin called Schröder the preferred candidate for dialogue between Russia and Europe.
>— Russia is ready to remove Iranian enriched uranium.
>— Escalation around Iran will impact all countries in the region.
https://t.me/rezervsvo/164042
>Putin commented on the worsening relations with Armenia following Zelenskyy's visit to Yerevan.
>He stated that the Armenian authorities could hold a referendum on EU accession. And if the Armenian people support such a course, Russia could initiate a "civilized divorce" from Armenia .
So what do we have here:
1) If the war is nearing its end, then Putin effectively officially conceded total defeat. Because none of the originally stated goals of the war has been achieved. Not even the much reduced goals from June 2024 have been achieved or look likely to be achieved any time soon
2) Putin has legitimized Zelensky and has conceded on not even meeting to sign the paper in Moscow. Which is fitting given that he will be signing Russia's surrender.
3) He is doubling down on betting on corruption in his relationships with the West as a way to resolve conflicts. Because we saw how well that worked over his quarter century in power
4) He has betrayed Iran. With all the consequences.
5) He is abandoning the Caucasus region. Without a fight. After Russia spent centuries and spilled rivers of blood to establish itself there. With all the consequences.
6) Putin once again admitted that he is an incompetent buffoon who got duped yet again by the West in 2022. It's either that or deliberate treason. The only question regarding which this distinction matters is the one whether he should be executed or only removed from office, but either way he is completely unfit to be Russia's president.
Those are the real news from the day.
Expected. Zelensky only declared, that he will not strike the Red Square during celebration.
Fico susppose to come to Kremlin with message from Zelensky and suppose to take back an answer. But Kremlin spokesperson denied everything, so Zelensky has lost his chance for diplomacy. Nobody else tries to mediate for over 2 months, since Iran war has started.
Ukrainians breached almost 9000x one sided ceasefire declared by Russia. In symmetrical responses they have lost 940 soldiers in those suicidal attacks in the first 24h . They never learn. They had a chance to enjoy that one day holiday and live their lives.