Russian President Vladimir V. Putin commemorated his nation’s triumph over Nazi Germany 80 years ago by overseeing a grand military parade in Moscow, an event attended by China’s top leader, Xi Jinping.
This marked Mr. Putin’s drive to present himself as the leader of a burgeoning coalition of anti-Western and nonaligned countries, alongside Mr. Xi, who sat beside him on a platform overlooking Red Square.
More than 20 international leaders, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, were in attendance, highlighting Russia’s global influence despite Western efforts to isolate Mr. Putin following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
However, after three years of conflict, the parade’s display of military strength did not reflect Russia’s battlefield performance; the country has not secured a decisive victory, achieving only minor advancements in Ukraine. The nation’s economy has also been faltering due to declining oil prices and high-interest rates aimed at curbing inflation.
Over the past three years, Mr. Putin has leveraged the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany to justify his invasion of Ukraine. Unfortunately, an event traditionally meant to unite the various factions within the country has instead become a source of further division.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/09/world/europe/russia-putin-victory-day-parade.html
