- No Russian military hardware was visible during the event.
- Putin references Soviet victory to boost support for the military.
- Overnight drone exchanges between Ukraine and Russia.
During the Victory Day parade on Red Square, President Vladimir Putin declared that Russian forces in Ukraine are combating an “aggressive force” supported by NATO countries and justified his war aims as “just.” His speech was delivered in a defiant tone.
Putin frequently emphasizes Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II as a core part of his 25-year leadership narrative, with celebrations traditionally marked with grandeur and pomp.
Recent Ukrainian long-range attacks have heightened Kremlin security and led to a scaled-down observance this year, with no military hardware on display—the first time in nearly 20 years—and mostly officials from Russia’s allied nations in attendance.
Moscow and Kyiv agreed to a three-day ceasefire around the parade, following a last-minute appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump. Moscow threatened a significant strike on central Kyiv if Ukraine interfered with the parade plans.
At the parade, Putin invoked Soviet victory to rally support for his military efforts in Ukraine, stating, “The remarkable achievement of the WWII generation inspires our soldiers today.” He added, “They face an aggressive force supported by NATO, yet our heroes continue to advance.” Later, he expressed his firm belief that their cause is just.
Three-Day Ceasefire
After attempts at truce earlier this week failed, Trump announced on Friday that a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine would be in effect from May 9 for three days. He described it as “possibly the beginning of ending a long, deadly conflict,” and noted that the ceasefire would include a prisoner exchange.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered his military not to attack during the ceasefire and confirmed his government would honor the truce to facilitate the exchange of 1,000 detainees from each side. Zelensky stated that the lives of Ukrainian prisoners are more critical than the historic event at Red Square.
Both Ukrainian and Russian official sources reported a reduction in drone attacks overnight.
The ongoing war, now in its fifth year, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and remains Europe’s deadliest conflict since WWII. Negotiations mediated by the U.S. have seen little progress since February, when attention shifted to Iran.
Prior to Trump’s announcement, Zelensky had expressed reluctance to agree to a ceasefire during the parade and warned against attendance by Moscow’s allies. Russia had threatened to strike Kyiv heavily if the parade was disrupted and advised foreign diplomats to evacuate the city ahead of the event.
In Kyiv, security was tight, with empty streets and disrupted mobile internet. Only leaders from Belarus, Malaysia, Laos, and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico were expected to attend, notably lower-profile than last year’s Chinese delegation with Xi Jinping.
On Friday, Zelensky expressed hope that U.S. diplomats would visit Ukraine soon to help restart peace negotiations.