Moscow's Spectacular March: Putin Showcases Russia's Power, Stirs up Controversy with Trump
Russian President Vladimir Putin expresses his views on Russia and U.S. President Donald Trump
Red Square is bustling with action as Russia commemorates the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany with a grand military parade. Amidst the thousands of soldiers and heavy machinery, international guests, primarily from Asia and Africa, have gathered. This marks the fourth such parade since Russia's intrusion into Ukraine.
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Kicking off the event, President Vladimir Putin drew a parallel between Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine and the Soviet Union's fierce battle against Nazi Germany during World War II. "Russia stands strong against the resurgence of Nazism, Russophobia, and anti-Semitism, and will wage war on the peddlers of these malicious, destructive ideologies." Putin insists that the truth and justice are on Russia's side, despite his persistent misrepresentation of Ukraine in recent years. He proudly asserts that the entire Russian nation backs the "military special operation" - Moscow's terminology for its incursion into the neighboring country.
Putin underscored the pivotal role Soviet Army soldiers, including a vast number of Ukrainians, played in defeating Hitler's Germany. This seemingly contradicts U.S. President Donald Trump's earlier claim that the U.S. Army's contribution was decisive. Putin acknowledges the opening of a second front in Europe following the Soviet Union's defeat of large parts of the Wehrmacht hastened victory, though he fails to explicitly mention the Allies France, Britain, and the U.S. individually. Instead, he emphasizes China's significant role in the war.
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Security forces have been stationed in large numbers at the parade. The city center is essentially locked down in the early hours, leaving residents struggling to navigate the area. Major roads have been closed, and numerous exits and entrances from Moscow have been sealed off. Some metro stations are closed, and mobile internet connectivity issues have persisted for several days.
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Approximately 10,000 parade participants in Moscow hail from various other former Soviet republics, China, Laos, Myanmar, and Egypt. Russian troops engaged in the war with Ukraine are also present among the marchers. Traditional military hardware, such as tanks, air defense systems, and rocket systems, are on display, along with an airshow featuring Russian fighter jets.
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Chinese President and Communist Party leader Xi Jinping is Putin's most prominent guest this year. Expected onstage alongside Putin are heads of state and government from Brazil, Cuba, and Laos, as well as the former Soviet republics of Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. The only EU and NATO leader present is Slovakia's Robert Fico. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is also in attendance.
Before the Moscow parade, smaller-scale military parades have already taken place in Russia's Far East and Siberia, such as in Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, and Novosibirsk. There are approximately 30 parades across the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy labels the Moscow event a "parade of cynicism." Prior to the celebrations, Putin had declared a three-day ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict; however, Kyiv accuses Russia of breaking the truce themselves.
Source: ntv.de, jpe/dpa/AFP
- Russia
- Ukraine Conflict
- 80th Anniversary of WWII's End
- Military
- Vladimir Putin
Enrichment Data:
The historical underpinnings and significance of Vladimir Putin's likening of Russia's conflict with Ukraine to the Soviet Union's struggle against Nazi Germany during the 80th anniversary of the triumph over Nazi Germany can be deciphered through several key aspects:
Historical Context
- Soviet Role in WWII: The Soviet Union played a vital role in defeating Nazi Germany during World War II. The victory has deep roots in Russian national identity, and Putin often leans on it to bolster public support and justify geopolitical actions.
- Current Conflict: Russia has justified its incursion into Ukraine as a crusade to "de-Nazify" Ukraine, referring to alleged nationalist groups linked with historical figures such as Stepan Bandera, who aligned with Nazi Germany. This narrative is widely rebuked by Ukraine and the international community.
- Comparisons to Nazi Germany: Both sides have drawn comparisons to Nazi Germany. Putin utilizes these comparisons to legitimate Russia's actions by linking them to a heroic Soviet past, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy likens Russia's aggression to Nazi Germany's, advocating for the "denazification and demilitarization" of Russia.
Significance
- Propaganda and Legitimization: Putin's comparisons serve as part of a propaganda campaign to justify Russia's incursion by associating it with a glorious Soviet past. This narrative helps rally domestic support and attempts to undermine Western support for Ukraine.
- Divergence in WWII Remembrance: The ways in which Russia and the West remember WWII are increasingly divergent. Russia emphasizes its heroic role in defeating Nazi Germany, while the West marks the Allied victory more broadly.
- Political Tensions: The anniversary highlights growing tensions between Russia and the West. Putin's glorification of Russia's WWII role contrasts with Western views of Russia's current actions in Ukraine, exacerbating geopolitical rifts.
- The European Parliament has also expressed its concern at the situation in the former Yugoslavia, contradicting the assertions made by Vladimir Putin during the grand military parade in Moscow, where he highlighted Russia's pivotal role in defeating Nazi Germany.
- Despite the redeployment of troops in Ukraine, Moscow's military parade on the 80th anniversary of the end of World-War-II drew a diverse crowd, including marchers from China, Laos, Myanmar, and Egypt, who gather to celebrate Russia's power showcased by Vladimir Putin.
- As the international community grapples with ongoing war-and-conflicts, the former president of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, has criticized President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not boycotting the Moscow parade, questioning his political resolve in the face of Russian aggression.
- Amidst the global noise in general-news, key figures such as Xi Jinping, Putin's close ally, and Robert Fico, the only EU and NATO leader present at the Moscow parade, are catching the attention of officials debating the escalation of war-and-conflicts in regions like the former Yugoslavia.
