Putin ended his highly-anticipated 'Victory Day' speech without declaring war on Ukraine as Western officials warned

Western officials had expected a declaration of all-out war in President Putin's speech, but it didn't happen.

On May 9, Russia commemorates the end of the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II with a grandiose military parade in Moscow's Red Square and a speech from the leader.

Western officials expected Putin to reveal new plans for the Ukraine invasion in his speech on Monday, given the unique context of the celebrations.

The UK defense secretary, Ben Wallace, told LBC Radio on April 28 that Putin is likely to announce on May 1 that Russia is at war with the world's Nazis.

It was nonsense that Putin would declare war, according to the Kremlin.

In his speech on Monday, Putin didn't make any new announcements about his war on Ukraine or mention the country at all.

Russian veterans who fought in World War II were praised by Putin. Pro-Kremlin rebels have largely controlled the Donbas.

Putin said that he had used to justify invading Ukraine before he entered the country. He did not provide any evidence for the claim that the leaders of Ukraine were committing genocide on their people.

NATO was creating tensions at the borders and the West was preparing for the invasion of Russia. Putin said that they did not want to listen to Russia.

You are fighting for the motherland so that no one forgets the lessons of World War II. There is no place for executioners, punishers and Nazis in the world.

In recent weeks, Russia has focused its attacks on Ukraine on the eastern Donbas region, abandoning its assault on other cities. Multiple reports said that Russian forces were surprised by the Ukrainian resistance.

Ahead of the May 9 parade in Russia, President Joe Biden and other G7 leaders met with Zelenskyy.

According to CBS News, William Burns, the director of the CIA, said at an event hosted by the Financial Times on Saturday that Putin appeared to be trying to redouble his efforts in Ukraine despite the setbacks.

According to an analysis from the Institute of War, Russian troops looked to be preparing for a renewed offensive in the Donbas, but are unlikely to be successful.

It would be a great irony if Moscow used the occasion of Victory Day to declare war, given how poorly the invasion was going, said US State Department spokesman Ned Price.