Putin's parade of power

Russia yesterday celebrated the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, as President Vladimir Putin presided over a parade of tanks, missiles and soldiers in Red Square, and welcomed more than two dozen world leaders, the most since Moscow sent troops to Ukraine.

Victory Day, which Russia marks on May 9, is the country's most important secular holiday. The parade and other festivities underscore Moscow's efforts to project global power and cement alliances it has forged, seeking to counterbalance the West amid the war in Ukraine.

Yesterday's parade was the largest since Russia sent troops to Ukraine in 2022 and drew the largest number of world leaders to Moscow in a decade, including high-profile guests such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The Associated Press reports that their presence underscored Putin's efforts to highlight the West's failure to marginalize Russia on the global stage.

“This shows again that Russia is not isolated, that Russia is seen as a very legitimate victorious nation that is among the victors of World War II,” said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Center for Russia and Eurasia.

He added that the presence of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico showed that "Russia has allies even within the Western bloc."

Fico's visit to Moscow has drawn criticism from European Union (EU) officials, who see the move as undermining European solidarity with Kiev.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that anyone who attended the military parade in Moscow had embarrassed themselves, after Fico became the only EU leader to attend the event.

"I try not to comment on the decisions and behavior of leaders of states, especially from our community," Tusk said at a news conference. "But there is no doubt that attending the Victory Parade in Moscow and applauding President Putin... brings shame to everyone who is there."

EC regrets Vučić's presence

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić was in Moscow yesterday, despite warnings from the EU that the move could negatively affect his country's European integration process.

Also at the parade were the Serbian member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović and the President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik.

The European Commission (EC) yesterday expressed regret over Vučić's departure for the parade in Moscow and warned that Serbia must once again convince Brussels of its strategic orientation towards the EU and demonstrate a credible commitment to European values, Beta reported.

In response to a question from N1 television, the EC stated that the EU was "crystal clear" to partners, including candidate countries for membership such as Serbia, that "relations with the Putin regime cannot be business as usual at a time of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine."

"The right place to show support for peace on May 9th is Kiev, not Moscow. We therefore strongly regret the Serbian leaders' trip to Moscow and participation in World War II celebrations that Russia is exploiting for propaganda purposes. Serbia must reassure us of its strategic orientation towards the EU and demonstrate a credible commitment to European values," the Commission stated.

The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kalas, told Fico that he was on the wrong side of history for participating in the celebration in Moscow.

"I really can't understand it. Everyone who supports freedom, independence and all European values ​​should be in Ukraine today on Europe Day, not in Moscow. Fico is standing shoulder to shoulder with Putin, who started that war," said Kalas in Lviv, where she was staying with EU foreign ministers.

World War II is a rare event in the history of a nation under communist rule that is revered by all political groups in Russia, and the Kremlin uses that sentiment to fuel national pride and highlight Russia's position as a global power, AP writes.

The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in what it calls the Great Patriotic War from 1941 to 1945, a huge sacrifice that left a deep scar on the national consciousness.

Putin said Russia would never accept attempts to downplay the decisive role of the Soviet Union in the defeat of Nazi Germany, but added that Moscow also recognizes the contribution of Western allies in the defeat of Adolf Hitler, Reuters reported.

"The Soviet Union took upon itself the fiercest, most merciless blows from the enemy," Putin said.

"We highly appreciate the contribution of the soldiers of the Allied armies, the members of the resistance, the brave people of China, and all those who fought for a peaceful future in our common struggle."

Justification for Putin

Putin did not criticize the West and only mentioned the war in Ukraine in passing.

Addressing the crowd in Red Square, he praised Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine, saying they were "proud of their courage and determination, their spiritual strength that has always brought us victory."

Putin, who has ruled Russia for 25 years, has turned Victory Day into a key pillar of his rule and is trying to use it to justify his actions in Ukraine, the AP points out.

For Putin, Victory Day celebrations have become “a civil religion that strengthens patriotism, nationalism, nostalgia and justifies both his repressive regime at home and Russia’s increasingly expansionist foreign policy abroad, especially towards its neighbors,” Gabuev said.

The parade featured more than 11.500 soldiers and over 180 military vehicles, including tanks, armored personnel carriers and artillery used on the battlefield in Ukraine. As a reminder of Russia’s nuclear power, huge Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launchers, equipped with nuclear warheads, paraded through Red Square. Among the weapons on display were drones mounted on military trucks, in recognition of their key role in the conflict.

After the parade, Putin hosted foreign leaders at a reception in the Kremlin.

Putin and US President Donald Trump exchanged "congratulations on our common holiday," said Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov.

This year, Victory Day celebrations were overshadowed by Ukrainian drone attacks aimed at Moscow and major disruptions at the capital's airports.

Russian authorities have stepped up security measures ahead of the parade, and mobile internet outages have been reported due to electronic countermeasures aimed at preventing potential drone attacks.

EU pledges continued support for Ukraine

In a direct response to the parade in Moscow, ministers from nearly 20 European countries met in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, where they pledged to continue to assist Kiev and expressed support for the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute President Putin and other senior Russian officials for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

Representatives of EU countries, candidate countries and the UK sought to send a clear message of solidarity amid the Russian invasion, the Guardian reported.

“Russia must feel our common and, most importantly, growing strength,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a meeting in Lviv. He stressed the need to hold Russia accountable, adding that “this is the moral duty of Europe and everyone in the world who values ​​human life.”

The EU has pledged to allocate one billion euros from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets to Ukrainian arms manufacturers.

“We have just made one billion euros available to the Ukrainian defense industry so that Ukraine can better defend itself,” said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kalas. The funds will “directly support Ukrainian defense companies,” she added.

Separately, the allies also approved the establishment of a tribunal to try Russian leaders for the "crime of aggression against Ukraine."

"We welcome the completion of technical work on the draft legal instruments necessary for the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine within the framework of the Council of Europe," a joint statement published by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.

Russian authorities categorically deny the war crimes allegations. Asked about the tribunal, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said yesterday that Moscow “will not react to it.”

Vučić met with Xi

The President of Serbia told the Chinese President in Moscow yesterday that he had managed to fight against an externally organized color revolution and that this meant continued friendship with China in the coming years.

At a meeting attended by other officials from the two countries, Vučić told Xi that he "did not come to ask for anything from him", but to say "thank you very much" and to inform him "that he thinks he has managed to fight off the color revolution that was organized from the outside in an attempt to overthrow the Serbian leadership", Beta reported.

"According to the public opinion polls I receive, I see that we are managing to defeat our opponents, and that means a secured friendship with China in the years ahead. Friends of Serbia like you, who have always done something for our country and my people, and have never asked for anything in return, are rare," Vučić said.

Vučić told Xi that he was "infinitely grateful for every kind of political support he gave to Serbia, both in the UN and that China always respects and protects the territorial integrity of Serbia everywhere, just as Belgrade always protects the territorial integrity of China."

He stated that he was grateful to Xi "for all the support and assistance," noting that two of the three largest exporters from Serbia today are Chinese companies.

Xi told Vučić that Beijing considers a strategic partnership with Serbia and the development of the "iron friendship" between the two countries important. Xi also said that Serbia and China are "building a common destiny" and "having good results."

"Today is a time of great changes and risks in the world, and it is important for us to focus on strategic partnership, to develop our iron-clad friendship, to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation," Xi said.