Vladimir Putin, in front of 10,000 soldiers and an ultra-tuned wind orchestra, in a millimetrically calculated theater during World War II. In Ukraine. It does not point to a clear path to a process that could allow for reduction or mediation in conflict.

Along with his rhetoric that there would be no sign of surrender to sanctions, his suggestion that today’s threats resemble those of the 1940s caught the attention of Western diplomacy.

Putin emphasized what the disputed territories looked like, and instead of merely a focused speech against neo-Nazi militias in Ukraine, he transferred the existential threat from Russia to the West, NATO and the United States.

“No one will forget the lessons learned from the Second World War so that there will be no room for the Nazis in the world,” he said.

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But what marked his speech was the transfer of blame to the West. Although the convergence between the Nazi threat and what NATO stands for was frowned upon at different embassies, European diplomats were already expecting it.

For Putin, the West was openly preparing an attack on Donbas and Crimea, and there was a discussion about nuclear weapons in Kiev. He said this would create “an unacceptable threat on our border”. He even accused the United States and its “servants” of ignoring Russia’s proposal for a deal late last year. “The danger was growing every day,” he justified.

In the diplomats’ view, what is still clear from the Russian leader’s speech is that although a war or mobilization has not been called, Putin has no suggestions that there is room for negotiation or that an agreement can be reached. de-escalation is planned.

Russia’s characterization of its troops’ efforts as “homeland” defense has been interpreted as a sign that Moscow is unwilling in the short term to withdraw its troops or seek an alternative to secession from Ukraine.

“There is no sign that we are moving towards de-escalation of military tensions,” a European negotiator said after the speech.