MOSCOW (Realist English). The first half of May 2026 was filled with key statements and actions by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The central event was the Victory Parade marking the 81st anniversary of Victory on Red Square, where the head of state drew a direct historical parallel between the feat of the Soviet people and the courage of the participants in the special military operation.
The following day, May 10, Putin gave extensive answers to journalists’ questions, setting out tough conditions for talks with Kyiv and assessing the prospects for relations with the West. At the same time, the president held working meetings on the economy and signed a series of decrees.
Victory Parade and the bond between generations
On May 9, 2026, a military parade took place on Red Square to mark the 81st anniversary of Victory. In his address, Putin called May 9 “a sacred, bright and most important holiday”. He stressed that “the great feat of the victorious generation inspires the soldiers who are carrying out the tasks of the special military operation today”.
Concluding his speech, the president declared: “Victory has always been and always will be ours!”
Ultimatum to Kyiv and forecast for the West
On May 10, Vladimir Putin held an extensive press conference for Russian and foreign journalists.
Negotiations with Ukraine:
- A personal meeting with Vladimir Zelensky only makes sense for signing final agreements, not for a negotiating process.
- Such a meeting could take place either in Moscow or in any third country.
- In the event of retaliatory strikes on Kyiv, Russia warned of a possible deterioration in relations with a number of countries whose embassies are located in the centre of the Ukrainian capital.
Relations with the West:
- Putin accused Western politicians of lying, noting that they had “deceived everyone” since the collapse of the USSR, breaking promises and expanding NATO eastwards. This “deceitfulness”, he said, had become “the basis of the current geopolitical situation”.
- At the same time, the president expressed hope for a restoration of relations with a number of EU countries, naming former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as the optimal candidate for dialogue.
Nuclear diplomacy:
The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the president’s initiative to hold a summit of the “nuclear five” (permanent members of the UN Security Council) “remains on the table” and is becoming particularly relevant in the context of the current crisis.
Economy: slowing growth, stabilisation and positive signals
On May 12, Putin held a working meeting with Maxim Reshetnikov, the head of the Ministry of Economic Development.
- Plan for the week: The president announced the upcoming traditional economic meeting, which will discuss measures to support household incomes and tackle labour shortages.
- Forecast adjustment: The Ministry of Economic Development had earlier reported a slowdown in GDP growth in the first months of the year. The forecast for 2026 was lowered from 1.3% to 0.4%. However, Reshetnikov reported that after a period of “cooling”, the economy had begun to stabilise.
- Positive dynamics: Putin noted that over the past three years, real economic growth had amounted to 10%. Furthermore, in March 2026, real wages had increased by 8% compared to the same period last year. Presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the president was “very closely” engaged with economic issues.
Key decrees and personnel decisions
In May 2026, the president signed a number of important documents:
- Personnel appointments (May 2): Alexei Dyumin and Ruslan Edelgeriyev were appointed aides to the President of the Russian Federation.
- Coordination Council (May 12): Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev was included in the government’s coordination council for meeting the needs of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
- Deferment from conscription: A decree was signed granting deferment from military conscription to students of universities under the jurisdiction of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations.
- Judicial system: Federal court judges and presidential representatives to the qualification boards of judges of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation were appointed.
- Awards (May 1): Titles of Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation were awarded, along with the “For Success in Labour” honorary insignia.
