Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Saturday that the Russian army is facing “aggressive” forces in Ukraine supported by NATO, during a speech on Red Square commemorating the victory over Nazi Germany.
The Russian leader made these remarks at the modest May 9th commemorations in Moscow, coinciding with the start of a three-day ceasefire accepted by Kiev. The parade lasted only 45 minutes and lacked military equipment, but was saved last minute by the ceasefire announced by Donald Trump the day before.
Threats of Ukrainian drone attacks to disrupt the Soviet victory celebrations against Nazi Germany in Russia on May 9th had been anticipated, as well as possible Russian strikes in retaliation against Kiev.
President Putin addressed hundreds of soldiers on Moscow’s main square, including military personnel from North Korea who assisted in driving out Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region in spring 2025.
The parade took place under tight security measures in nearly deserted Moscow streets, as mobile internet was shut down in the city center. These commemorations hold significant importance for Putin, in power for 26 years, allowing him to rally Russian support for the military campaign in Ukraine.
Following various unsuccessful ceasefire attempts last week, President Trump announced a three-day ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, expressing hope that it could signal the end of a long and deadly war. Ukrainian President agreed to the ceasefire and ordered the military not to attack the planned parade on Red Square.
Moscow reduced the scale of the celebrations this year, with no military equipment or cadet formations present in Red Square for the first time in over two decades. The number of foreign dignitaries was also limited, with only leaders from Belarus, Malaysia, Laos, and Slovakia attending.
Talks between Ukrainian and American negotiators had resumed in Florida this week, with President Zelensky expressing hope for their visit to Ukraine in the coming weeks. The large-scale Russian offensive in Ukraine, now in its fifth year, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties, making it the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II.
