Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that the conflict in Ukraine was nearing its end as Russia marked Victory Day with a military parade on Moscow’s Red Square commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
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The annual parade, attended by several foreign leaders, was held under tight security and notably did not feature tanks, missiles or other heavy military equipment for the first time in nearly two decades. Russian officials cited the ongoing operational situation and security concerns linked to the war in Ukraine for the scaled-down display.
Addressing the parade, Putin praised Russian troops fighting in Ukraine and claimed they were confronting forces backed by NATO. He described the military campaign as a “just cause” and declared that victory would remain with Russia.
Later speaking to reporters, Putin accused Western nations of supporting Ukraine in an attempt to weaken Russia and said he believed the conflict was approaching its conclusion.
The Russian president also revealed that the absence of heavy weaponry from the parade was due to military requirements on the battlefield. For the first time, troops from North Korea participated in the Victory Day parade, reflecting growing military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.
The event came amid a temporary ceasefire linked to diplomatic efforts involving Donald Trump. Trump announced that both Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a pause in fighting from Saturday through Monday alongside a prisoner exchange initiative.
Putin said Trump had offered to broker a ceasefire after Russia warned the United States that any attempt by Ukraine to disrupt the parade could trigger a major missile strike on Kyiv. According to Putin, Russia accepted the ceasefire proposal for humanitarian reasons and out of respect for the shared victory over Nazism.
Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his willingness to meet Putin for peace talks. Putin responded by saying he was open to meeting Zelenskyy in a third country, but only once a comprehensive peace agreement was ready for signing.
Several foreign leaders attended the Moscow celebrations, including officials from Malaysia, Laos, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Belarus. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico also visited Moscow, drawing criticism from Friedrich Merz.
The Victory Day celebrations remain a major symbol of national pride in Russia, commemorating the Soviet Union’s sacrifices during World War II while also serving as a platform for the Kremlin to project military strength and political influence.
