In Photos: Russia Marks 80 Years Since Soviet WWII Victory With Grandiose Military Parade
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Introduction:
The news topic “In Photos: Russia Marks 80 Years Since Soviet WWII Victory With Grandiose Military Parade” has drawn international attention, with various media outlets providing diverse insights, historical context, political stances, and on-the-ground developments. Below is a curated overview of how different countries and media organizations have covered this topic recently.
Quick Summary:
- Russia marked 80 years since the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II on Friday. President Vladimir Putin oversaw the parade of over 11,000 Russian soldiers and members of the security services. Another 1,500 servicemen who fought in the invasion of Ukraine made an appearance.
- Vladimir Putin seen cosying up to Chinese leader during parade as Russia marks Victory Day. Putin defiantly said that the Russian people backed his “special military operation” in Ukraine as he spoke at a massive military parade in Moscow. Victory Day, which is celebrated in Russia on May 9, is the country’s most important secular holiday. A Red Square parade and other ceremonies underline Moscow’s efforts to project its global power and cement the alliances it has forged while seeking a counterbalance to the West. Also on Friday, EU foreign ministers will in Lviv to show support for Ukraine, and European leaders meeting in Oslo are expected to do the same. For Putin, the attendance of China’s Xi on Victory Day is seen as a major achievement and he praised the “courageous people of China” as he paid tribute to Russia’s allies in World War Two.
- Vladimir V. Putin will preside over a Victory Day parade on Red Square on Friday. The parade is expected to be the largest since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. At the end of April, Mr. Putin announced a three-day unilateral cease-fire in Ukraine, starting on May 8 to mark the celebrations. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine rejected the proposal, calling it a “theatrical show,” and proposed a 30-day truce that could allow for meaningful negotiations to end the war. He also said that Ukraine would offer no security guarantees to guests of the parade in Moscow. A regiment of Chinese soldiers will march in Red Square before the Kremlin’s crimson walls, and fighter jets are expected to fly over Moscow. Russia will be welcoming the highest number of foreign dignitaries since 2015 and their participation or absence will be examined in Moscow as signs of defiance or allegiance to the West.
Country-by-Country Breakdown:
Original Coverage
Russia marked 80 years since the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II on Friday. President Vladimir Putin oversaw the parade of over 11,000 Russian soldiers and members of the security services. Another 1,500 servicemen who fought in the invasion of Ukraine made an appearance. Read full article
Vladimir Putin seen cosying up to Chinese leader during parade as Russia marks Victory Day
Vladimir Putin seen cosying up to Chinese leader during parade as Russia marks Victory Day. Putin defiantly said that the Russian people backed his “special military operation” in Ukraine as he spoke at a massive military parade in Moscow. Victory Day, which is celebrated in Russia on May 9, is the country’s most important secular holiday. A Red Square parade and other ceremonies underline Moscow’s efforts to project its global power and cement the alliances it has forged while seeking a counterbalance to the West. Also on Friday, EU foreign ministers will in Lviv to show support for Ukraine, and European leaders meeting in Oslo are expected to do the same. For Putin, the attendance of China’s Xi on Victory Day is seen as a major achievement and he praised the “courageous people of China” as he paid tribute to Russia’s allies in World War Two. Read full article
Russia’s Victory Day Parade: What to Know. – The New York Times
Vladimir V. Putin will preside over a Victory Day parade on Red Square on Friday. The parade is expected to be the largest since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. At the end of April, Mr. Putin announced a three-day unilateral cease-fire in Ukraine, starting on May 8 to mark the celebrations. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine rejected the proposal, calling it a “theatrical show,” and proposed a 30-day truce that could allow for meaningful negotiations to end the war. He also said that Ukraine would offer no security guarantees to guests of the parade in Moscow. A regiment of Chinese soldiers will march in Red Square before the Kremlin’s crimson walls, and fighter jets are expected to fly over Moscow. Russia will be welcoming the highest number of foreign dignitaries since 2015 and their participation or absence will be examined in Moscow as signs of defiance or allegiance to the West. Read full article
Russia’s Military Show of Strength Masks Economic and Diplomatic Cracks – The New York Times
The annual Moscow parade marking victory over Nazi Germany is expected to be the largest in years, with world leaders in attendance. The Kremlin tries to link that triumph to the war in Ukraine. Behind the pomp, though, Russia stands on shakier ground than the Kremlin’s confident show suggests. Its military is barely advancing on the battlefield, its economy is sputtering, prices for oil, its main export, are falling and, perhaps most surprising, President Trump is hinting that his view of President Vladimir V. Putin and his war is souring. “They believe that victory will not go to the side that is the best, but to the one that remains standing the longest,” a Russian economy expert said of the Russian government and its supporters of the Ukraine war. ‘They are convinced that they are more resilient than their opponents,’ he said in a phone interview. Read full article
How Putin uses the USSR’s victory in World War II to rally support for him and the war in Ukraine
Victory Day, celebrated on May 9, is Russia’s most important secular holiday, reflecting its wartime sacrifice. It’s also used by the Kremlin to bolster patriotism and regain the superpower prestige it lost when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. President Vladimir Putin, who has ruled Russia for 25 of those 80 years, has used it to justify his 3-year-old invasion of Ukraine. He has also sought to underline the failure of Western efforts to isolate Moscow by inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders to the festivities. This year’s festivities have been overshadowed by reports of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Moscow and severe disruptions at the capital’s airports, as well as cellphone internet outages on Wednesday. The Soviet Union lost a staggering 27 million people in what it calls the Great Patriotic War from 1941-45, and that sacrifice left a deep scar in the national psyche. Read full article
Moscow releases guest list for Victory Day parade
The Kremlin has released a guest list of countries and foreign leaders planning to attend the contentious May 9 Victory Day parade. Military personnel from 13 countries are expected to march through Moscow on the day of the parade. At least 29 world leaders are also expected to attend, Russian state-controlled media reported on May 6. Every year on May 9, Russia holds grandiose military parades in celebration of the end of World War II in Europe. Ukraine and most European nations mark May 8 as Victory in Europe Day. The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, warned EU leaders against attending Russia’s Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. Read full article
World War III Vibes: Would Ukraine Attack Putin’s World War II Victory Parade?
Vladimir Putin’s proposed ceasefire in Ukraine is viewed by critics as a self-serving maneuver, not a genuine humanitarian effort. The timing strongly suggests the goal is to protect Moscow’s paramount May 9th Victory Day parade from potentially embarrassing Ukrainian drone strikes. Putin personally engages in planning this event, including the military units and weapon systems planned to participate in it. This situation highlights the parade’s symbolic vulnerability and deep Ukrainian skepticism regarding Russia’s ceasefire motives. The Hill, an editorial in The Hill has a harsh take on the issue of Russia’s proposed call for a 30-hour ceasefire, beginning a week from today. “Russian President Vladimir Putin” is a “complete joke,” reads the op-ed. The reason that the former KGB Lt. Col. has made this proposal is “to ensure Ukraine does not strike Moscow as Putin and his guests celebrate the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany” Read full article
Zelensky slams Putin’s 3-day truce proposal as ‘manipulation,’ reiterates calls for 30-day unconditional ceasefire
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Victory Day truce as “another attempt at manipulation” Putin announced a so-called “humanitarian” truce in Russia’s war against Ukraine to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. The U.S. has intensified efforts to reach a settlement in separate peace talks with Ukraine and Russia. Zelenski called for increased international pressure on Russia to stop its war amid a lack of agreement from Moscow on a ceasefire. He reiterates his calls for a full ceasefire, for at least 30 days to ensure it is “secure and guaranteed” and to end the war that “only Russia needs,” he said. “We value human lives, not parades. That’s why we believe — and the world believes — that there is no reason to wait until May 8,” he added. Read full article
Global Perspectives Summary:
Global media portray this story through varied cultural, economic, and political filters. While some focus on geopolitical ramifications, others highlight local impacts and human stories. Some nations frame the story around diplomatic tensions and international relations, while others examine domestic implications, public sentiment, or humanitarian concerns. This diversity of coverage reflects how national perspectives, media freedom, and journalistic priorities influence what the public learns about global events.
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Sources:
- Original Article
- Vladimir Putin seen cosying up to Chinese leader during parade as Russia marks Victory Day
- Russia’s Victory Day Parade: What to Know. – The New York Times
- Russia’s Military Show of Strength Masks Economic and Diplomatic Cracks – The New York Times
- How Putin uses the USSR’s victory in World War II to rally support for him and the war in Ukraine
- Moscow releases guest list for Victory Day parade
- World War III Vibes: Would Ukraine Attack Putin’s World War II Victory Parade?
- Zelensky slams Putin’s 3-day truce proposal as ‘manipulation,’ reiterates calls for 30-day unconditional ceasefire
Source: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/05/09/in-photos-russia-marks-80-years-since-soviet-wwii-victory-with-grandiose-military-parade-a89027