Moscow marks Victory Day with a Red Square parade under tight security
Moscow's Victory Day parade features tight security and Putin's remarks on Ukraine
NPR Topics: News1 min read
Putin denounces Nato at scaled back Victory Day parade
TL;DR
Vladimir Putin justified the war in Ukraine during his Victory Day speech, denouncing NATO as an aggressive force. The parade saw muted celebrations and no military hardware for the first time in nearly 20 years.
Key points
- Putin justified the war in Ukraine during Victory Day speech
- He denounced NATO as an aggressive force supporting Ukraine
- Celebrations were muted across Russia for the national holiday
- No military hardware was featured in the parade for the first time in nearly 20 years
- A three-day ceasefire was agreed upon by Russia and Ukraine
Mentioned in this story
Vladimir PutinNATOMoscow
Vladimir Putin has used his annual Victory Day speech in Moscow's Red Square to justify his war in Ukraine and denounce Nato.
Speaking in front of hundreds of military personnel and flanked by a few world leaders, the Russian president said he was fighting a "just" war and called Ukraine an "aggressive force" that is being "armed and supported by the whole bloc of Nato".
His remarks come amid muted celebrations across parts of Russia to mark the nation's biggest national holiday, which commemorates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany.
Ahead of the celebrations, Russia and Ukraine agreed to observe a three-day ceasefire, which was announced by US President Donald Trump on Friday.
For the first time in nearly two decades, no military hardware featured in Moscow's Victory Day parade.
But under tightened security, military personnel marched in droves across Red Square.
Addressing the crowd, Putin started his speech by commemorating the sacrifices of USSR soldiers during World War Two.
"The great feat of the generation of victors inspires the soldiers carrying out the goals of the special military operation today," he said, referring to the war in Ukraine.
"They are confronting an aggressive force armed and supported by the whole bloc of Nato. And despite this, our heroes move forward."
The Russian leader went on to celebrate the citizens of Russia, making reference to the contributions of workers to its war effort, including scientists, inventors, military correspondents, doctors and teachers.
"No matter how military tactics change, the future of the country is being provided for by the people," he said.
Immediately after the speech, cannons fired successive rounds before music was played by a military brass band.
Behind Putin was Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
Also in attendance at the event were Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith and Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim.
Markedly fewer world leaders turned up compared to last year's 80th anniversary parade, which included China's President Xi Jinping and Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Russian TV viewers were also shown a broadcast of soldiers on the front lines after Putin's speech.
Ahead of the parade in Moscow, other celebrations had already taken place in cities in Russia's east.
They included celebrations in far-eastern Vladivostok, where people participated in a march commemorating war veterans, known as the Immortal Regiment march.
Some parades taking place across the country were expected to include military vehicles, though most were reported to be from World War Two rather than modern, according to Russian state media.
Other parades and public celebrations were called off altogether.
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine was launched in 2022 and has been going on for more than four years.
Q&A
What did Putin say about NATO during the Victory Day parade?
Putin denounced NATO, claiming it supports Ukraine as an aggressive force in his justification for the war.
Why were celebrations muted at the Victory Day parade?
The celebrations were muted due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and the absence of military hardware for the first time in nearly two decades.
What was the significance of the ceasefire announced before Victory Day?
The ceasefire, agreed upon by Russia and Ukraine, was significant as it aimed to provide a temporary halt to hostilities during the national holiday.
How did the absence of military hardware impact the Victory Day parade?
The absence of military hardware marked a notable change in the parade's tradition, reflecting the current state of military engagement and national sentiment.
