A Military Parade in Moscow Celebrating Strength, Stirring Controversy
Russian President Vladimir Putin voices disapproval towards Russia's actions and those of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Moscow plays host to a grand military spectacle, marking the anniversary of the triumph over the Nazi menace. On the hallowed ground of Red Square, President Putin ventures to defend Russia's actions in Ukraine and exalts the Soviet spirit. Ukraine, once a constituent of the Soviet Union, labels the event a "parade of rhetoric."
The annual military parade, organized to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II, unfolds on Red Square. This year, the event sees the participation of thousands of soldiers and an array of heavy military hardware. Numerous international attendees, predominantly from Asia and Africa, grace the occasion. This represents the fourth such parade following the start of Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
Analysis of Putin's Address
At the inception of the event, President Vladimir Putin likened Russia's involvement in Ukraine to the defense of the Soviet Union against the Nazi onslaught in World War II. "Russia remains an indomitable bastion against Nazism, Russophobia, and anti-Semitism, and we shall stand resolute against the excesses perpetrated by the zealots of these destructive ideologies," the Kremlin leader declared, who has frequently propagated misinformation about Ukraine's recent history. He further asserted that the entire Russian populace backs the combatants of the "military special operation" - Moscow's tag for its incursion into the neighboring nation.
Putin underscored the pivotal role played by the soldiers of the Soviet Army, including hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, in securing the triumph over Hitler's Germany in World War II. While he implicitly disputed US President Donald Trump's assessment, who once lauded the US Army's role as decisive, he conceded that the launch of a second front in Europe after the ravaging of large swathes of the Wehrmacht by the Soviet Union certainly hastened victory. Although he neglected to mention the allies France, Britain, and the US individually, he acknowledged China's contribution in the war.
Understanding Propaganda and Commemoration
The proceedings are guarded by a multitude of security personnel. Early-morning pedestrians found it challenging to navigate the city because of road limitations and restricted access points. The city center was closed to traffic, and several metro stations had been shut down, while mobile internet connectivity problems had persisted for days.
Notable Presence and Participation
Of the nearly 10,000 participants in the Moscow parade were soldiers from various other former Soviet republics, as well as China, Laos, Myanmar, and Egypt. Over Red Square, Russian forces, including troops dispatched by the Kremlin during its Ukraine campaign, marched in unison. The parade showcased an impressive array of weaponry, including tanks, air defense batteries, and rocket systems, as well as an aerial display by Russian fighter jets.
The VIP Guest Brass
The most significant visitor this year was Chinese President Xi Jinping, who was placed alongside Putin on the podium. Also anticipated on the dais were 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 lone head of government of an EU and NATO nation present was Slovakia's Robert Fico. Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic also attended the event.
Before the Moscow celebration, smaller-scale military parades had already occurred in various cities across Russia, such as Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, etc. There were approximately 30 parades held nationwide.
The Ukrainian Response
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the Moscow event as a "parade of words." Earlier, Putin had proclaimed a three-day ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict during the celebrations. However, Kyiv accused Russia of violating this ceasefire itself.
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- The European Parliament has also expressed its concern at the situation in the former Yugoslavia, following the military parade in Moscow that contravened the general news, politics, and war-and-conflicts categories, given its proximity to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
- The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, labeled the Moscow celebration a "parade of words," noting that Russia violated its own declared three-day ceasefire during the event, further escalating tensions.
- In his address during the parade, President Vladimir Putin invited countries that share Russia's concern for countering the rise of Nazism and other destructive ideologies to celebrate the victory in Moscow, suggesting potential expansion of this annual event beyond the former Soviet republics.
- Moscow's military parade, celebrating the triumph over the Nazi menace and commemorating the 80th anniversary of World War II, attracted Chinese President Xi Jinping as the most significant visitor, garnering attention for its significance in the global politics and war-and-conflicts sphere.
