Russia Marks Victory Day with Show of Strength, Welcomes China’s Xi Amid Controversial Truce
Russian President Vladimir Putin marked the 80th anniversary of Victory Day with a grand military parade in Moscow’s Red Square on Friday, delivering a defiant speech that linked the legacy of World War II to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The commemorations, held under tight security, were attended by thousands of soldiers and over 20 international leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose prominent presence underscored deepening ties between Moscow and Beijing. For the first time, combat drones, now central to the Ukraine war, rolled through Red Square in a stark symbol of Russia’s evolving warfare. Over 11,000 troops participated in the event, including 1,500 veterans of the Ukraine frontlines, reviewed by Defence Minister Andrei Belousov before Putin’s address and a national moment of silence. Putin declared that Russia would remain “an indestructible barrier against Nazism, Russophobia, and antisemitism,” repeating his widely discredited claim that Ukraine’s leadership harbors Nazi ideology. He insisted the country is united behind the so-called “special military operation,” now in its fourth year. “Truth and justice are on our side,” Putin said, affirming domestic support for the war while standing alongside Xi, who wore the St George ribbon, a Russian military symbol now banned in several neighboring states. China’s participation was seen as the political centerpiece of the event. Over 100 Chinese soldiers marched alongside Russian forces, and Putin praised the “courageous people of China.” The two leaders held two rounds of formal talks and an informal discussion about Ukraine before the parade. Russian state media hailed the relationship between the countries as the strongest it has ever been, openly describing their alliance as a counterweight to the “collective West.” Military units from North Korea, Vietnam, and Mongolia were also present, further reflecting Russia’s eastward diplomatic pivot. North Korean soldiers did not march, but Putin made a point of greeting General Kim Yong-bok, believed to command North Korean units assisting Russia in Ukraine’s Kursk region. North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, visited the Russian embassy in Pyongyang in a parallel gesture of solidarity. The parade took place amid a contested, unilateral three-day ceasefire declared by Russia to coincide with the anniversary. Kyiv dismissed the truce as a “theatrical show,” accusing Moscow of launching thousands of attacks since it began at midnight Wednesday. Ukraine said there were nearly 200 clashes, 18 airstrikes, and almost 4,000 artillery incidents on the second day of the ceasefire, including a drone attack that killed a woman in Prymorske, Zaporizhzhia region. Russia insists it is observing the ceasefire and blames Ukraine for repeated violations, claiming its troops have only responded in a “mirror-like” manner. The ceasefire is scheduled to end on Saturday night. Germany’s newly elected Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed cautious optimism, stating the temporary truce could be extended to 30 days if Moscow agrees. “The ball is now entirely in Moscow’s court,” Merz said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, addressing the nation on Thursday, said Kyiv was ready for a real ceasefire “starting right now” and called on Russia to prove its sincerity. “No missile or drone strikes, no hundreds of assaults on the front,” he urged. Zelensky also spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump, emphasizing the need for a sustained 30-day ceasefire as a path to peace. Trump backed the proposal, calling for an unconditional halt to hostilities and threatening further sanctions against those who refuse to comply. Despite international calls for de-escalation, heavy security blanketed Moscow amid concerns that Ukraine might strike the parade. Military analysts like Mykhailo Samus suggested Kyiv would likely hold back due to the presence of global dignitaries but maintained that the parade remained a legitimate target under international law. Among the controversial attendees were Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, Serbia’s Aleksandar Vucic, and Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico—Europe’s only representative. Their participation sparked criticism from EU officials, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warning that EU candidate nations should steer clear of supporting Putin’s wartime spectacle. Taiwan condemned China’s involvement, accusing Beijing and Moscow of rewriting history. Taiwan’s government said that Chinese communist forces had played a minimal role in World War II, in contrast to the then-republican government, which later retreated to the island. As jets roared over Red Square and tanks paraded past the Kremlin walls, Russia’s show of strength served not only as a historical remembrance but also a bold political message—one projecting defiance to the West and unity with its authoritarian allies.
Admin | 2025-05-09 17:11:43