May 9, known as "Victory Day" in Russia, marks the defeat of the Nazis at the end of World War II in 1945. It is usually celebrated with a military parade that Russian leaders observe from above Lenin's mausoleum on Moscow's Red Square.

Several Western analysts and military officials suspect that Putin may use the symbolic significance and propaganda value of May 9 to announce either a victory in the war against Ukraine, or a sharp escalation of aggression.

- What is now being speculated about is that Russia is possibly thinking "Now we will complete the victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 by defeating" Nazi Ukraine "in 2022, says Professor Kristian Gerner.

Start calling it war?

Russia has so far referred to the invasion of Ukraine as a "special military operation", but many believe that Moscow on May 9 will call it a "war" for the first time.

- I think Putin will try to move on from his "special military operation".

He has laid the groundwork to say, "Look, this is a war against the Nazis, and what I need now is more people," Britain's Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace told LBC Radio last week.

Russia: "Nonsense"

Russia's intention to end the war before May 9 is "nonsense", according to Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

The country's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also denied the suspicions earlier this week:

- Our military will not adapt its actions to any date, including Victory Day.

But according to Kristian Gerner, one can not trust the words of the Russian leadership.

- Since 24 February, several surprises have been carried out by Russia.

We have had a hard time understanding both in the US and in Europe, with our way of looking at reality.

Therefore, it is really impossible to predict what Russia will do next, he says.

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- It has changed from an honor to a military show, says the correspondent Bert Sundström about the Russian May 9 celebration.

Photo: SVT / Storyblocks