– He has a need to motivate the people at home. There it works. At the same time, the thoughts appear as a fantasy product for us who live on Putin’s away. There are two different realities.
This is what rhetoric expert and associate professor at Kristiania University College, Kjell Terje Ringdal, says about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s speech on Monday.
In the speech, the Russian president compared the forces in Ukraine with the Soviet soldiers who fought against Nazi Germany during World War II. At the same time, Putin reiterated his claims that the United States, the West and NATO are to blame for the conflict, and that Russia faced an unacceptable threat in Ukraine.
– He takes on a kind of victim role. The speech was cleverly screwed together and points towards common values. We also see this in other great leaders around the world, says Ringdal.
West accuses: Plans for invasion
– No more than necessary
Ringdal also points to another rhetorical move that the Russian president used during the speech.
– He refers to the past, present and future. We see this in all types of speeches, including weddings and confirmations here at home. This move also helps to awaken the common values.
Western media have speculated whether Putin would use the day to announce an escalation in Ukraine, or another type of change of course in the conflict. He did not.
SPEAKING TO THE PEOPLE: Russian President Vladimir Putin used the speech in Red Square on May 9 to motivate the Russian people and believed that the Russians were facing an unacceptable threat in Ukraine. Photo: Kirill Kudryavtsev / AFP / NTB
sea view
The president also did not use the word “war” during the speech. He went on to describe the conflict as a “special operation”, as the Russian authorities have done so far.
– Putin simply does not do more than he has to. By staying at such a subdued and moderate level as he did, the president is helping to keep the conflict at a manageable level for the Russians. Had he been more aggressive, I think it could have had a greater consequence, says Ringdal.
– Unsubstantiated allegations
– Muscle flexion
The first lecturer, on the other hand, is sure that the marking on the Red Square has helped to motivate the Russian people.
– With such a highway marking and a number of symbols in use, Putin gets posed as a great leader. It is a kind of muscle flexion, says Ringdal.
However, he does not believe that the marking has worked in the western part of the world.
– Most skies only with the islands. For most people, this is just a reindeer crochet bluff.
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