Accompanied by North Korean generals and leaders of China and Brazil, the Russian president Vladimir Putin He led today the celebrations for the day of Victory, with a magnificent military parade in the red square and draconian security measures, just hours after repeated Ukrainian attacks with drones in Moscow.
By his side stood China’s leader Xi Jingin a demonstration of “no limits” against the West. Putin addressed a speech to thousands of soldiers and Over 20 foreign leadersopenly connecting World War II to the full -scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth year.
In a spectacular parade with the backdrop of the Red Square and the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin attempted not only to honor the “Victory Day” but also to reinstall Russia as a leading power of a new, rising bloc that looks away from the West.
In the presence of Chinese and Brazilian leaders, North Korea generals and more than 11,500 soldiers – Among them and drones units – The message was clear: Moscow is not isolated. On the contrary, it celebrates its powereven in the midst of the war in Ukraine.
The parade – which, among other things, included drones used in Ukraine to pass in front of the platforms under the sounds of military band – emphasized a geopolitical moment for Putin, the reports said in a statement New York Times, in which Moscow’s global influence seems to be reinforced, thanks to President Trump’s pro -Russian attitude.
However, despite Trump’s apparent willingness to work with Putin, there was no presence of senior US officials at the Niki Day parade. On the contrary, Putin was surrounded by more than 20 foreign leaders, mainly by countries that declare neutral or even hostile to the West.
Putin and Trump preferred to exchange congratulations with each other For the anniversary of World War II through consultants.
During the parade, Russian state television showed Putin chatting with Xi Jing, the president of China, who was sitting next to him. Present were also President Luis Inasio Lula da Silva of Brazil and President Alexander Vucic of Serbia.
The prime minister Robert Ficco of Slovakia He was the only leader of the European Union country. At the end of the parade, the cameras showed Putin to exchange handshakes with North Korean generals, who greet him wearing medals full of medals.
Kremlin sought to present the large number of foreign officials as evidence of Russia’s global influence, Despite the West’s efforts to isolate Putin after the Russian full -scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Trade with China helped the Russian economy remain upright, while the North Korean troops contributed to the expulsion of Ukrainian forces from Russian territory that had occupied last year.
In a speech at the parade, Putin referred to the war in Ukraine, saying that Russia is involved in a “fair struggle” and that “the whole country, society and the people support participants in the special military operation”, using the term that prefers the Kremlin.
At the Victory Day parade in Moscow, Putin hugged North Korean generals to thank them for the North Korean army aiding the Russian Army in their war of aggression against Ukraine.
– Visegrád 24 (@Visegrad24) May 9, 2025
Speaking from platforms, Putin linked Russia’s past victories with current conflicts.
“Our fathers have left us as a legacy to strongly defend our national interests, our millennium history, our culture and our traditional values,” said Putin, whose father had fought in World War II.
But three years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, The demonstration of military power does not reflect Russia’s real performance on the battlefield.
The Russian army has not made a decisive victory in Ukraine and has only made small, gradual advances in recent months. At the same time, the Russian economy is slowing due to the decline in oil prices and high interest rates maintained to reduce inflation.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un did not attend the parade and the North Korean troops did not parade in the square, as many expected.
Many North Korean generals attended the parade from the platforms. In the end, Putin approached them and heard “thank you very much”, probably in reference to the role of North Korea in Kursk.
In total, more than 11,500 men and women of the Armed Forces participated in the parade, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. Among them was a Constitution of Chinese soldiers and troops from former Soviet democracies that maintain friendly relations with Moscow.
In recent years, the holidays of the 9th of May of 9 May has served as a rare, unifying anniversary for Russia and the former Soviet Union, as about 27 million Sovietists have been killed in World War II.
However, Putin attempts to use the Soviet triumph of 1945 to legitimize his invasion of Ukraine, where Russia, according to the false allegation of the Kremlin, is fighting “Nazi”.
Strict security measures were implemented throughout Moscow on Friday. The entire city center ended for the traffic and subway stations near the Kremlin were closed. Internet access was dashed, even through fixed lines.
Many in Russia feared that Ukraine could use a long -range drone to hit the city on the day of the parade – especially after the Ukrainian attack with a drone that forced the closure of all four major Moscow airports earlier in the week.
Unlike last year’s parade, which included only a Soviet battle chariot, this year was the largest since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
More than 180 military vehicles, including battle tanks and nuclear rocket launchers marched in the square, and for the first time a specialized drone unit was also involved, reflecting the crucial role of these weapons in the war.
The parade was completed by flight of Russian fighter aircraft over the city.
Information from New York Times