Putin's tearful moment: Propaganda amid ceasefire tensions
An absurd recording has emerged from Russia, showing Dictator Vladimir Putin appearing moved while watching a drama about the so-called Great Patriotic War. The film was shared by a journalist accompanying him. "What the actions of the people in the Great Patriotic War mean for Putin: a shocking recording no one has seen before," noted the journalist.
This peculiar recording, designed to depict Putin as sensitive and tender, was released by Pavel Zarubin, a journalist who accompanies the dictator on all his domestic and international trips.
"Shocking recording": propaganda in action
The recording, lasting 22 seconds, shows Putin with slightly glazed eyes.
Meanwhile, Zarubin describes it in this manner: "What the actions of the people in the Great Patriotic War mean for Putin: a shocking recording no one has seen before" – he stated on Telegram.
The propaganda recording quickly disseminated through other Russian media outlets. "Putin was moved by fragments of the new war film 'Not Listed.' During the final scene, the president's eyes filled with tears" – reported the TASS agency.
"The Great Patriotic War" is the Russian (previously Soviet) term for the segment of World War II that spans from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945 – the period during which the Soviet Union fought against the Third Reich after the German invasion of the USSR.
This is an ideological term – "patriotic" was intended to highlight the defence of the homeland against the invader.
The dictator refuses to agree to a ceasefire
On the night between Saturday and Sunday, the Russian dictator held a press conference at the Kremlin. He proposed to Ukraine the resumption of direct peace talks in Istanbul from 15 May – without any preconditions. As reported by global agencies, the Russian leader declared that the aim of the talks should be "to eliminate the root causes of the conflict" and "to restore lasting peace."
However, the Kremlin made it clear that it does not agree to the 30-day ceasefire proposed by Ukraine. This was supposed to commence on Monday, 12 May.
The Ukrainian side also expressed readiness for talks. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine is open to negotiations in any format. On Saturday, he spoke by phone with former US president Donald Trump and met in Kyiv with leaders from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Poland – countries forming part of the so-called "coalition of the willing."
