Putin Strongly Criticizes NATO on Russian Victory Day
Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Reuters.
In his annual Victory Day speech at Moscow's Red Square, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a harsh condemnation of NATO while reaffirming his support for the war in Ukraine.
Addressing hundreds of military personnel and several gathered world leaders, the Russian President claimed that he is fighting a "just" war. During the speech, he characterized Ukraine as an "aggressor power" that is receiving weaponry and support through the entire NATO alliance.
At the beginning of his address, Putin commemorated the sacrifices made by Soviet soldiers during World War II. He praised what he described as the successes of Russian troops in the Ukraine war while maintaining his critique of NATO.
"The great feat of the victorious generation is today inspiring the soldiers who are fulfilling the goals of the special military operation. They are facing an aggressor power supported by the entire NATO alliance. Despite this, our heroes are moving forward," Putin stated.
Commending the contributions of the nation's citizens, the Russian leader praised scientists, innovators, military correspondents, doctors, and teachers. He remarked, "No matter how military tactics change, it is the people of this country who are ensuring the nation's future."
Immediately following the speech, a cannon salute was fired, and a military band performed. After the ceremony at Red Square, Putin laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and later attended a reception at the Kremlin.
Victory Day was celebrated in other parts of Russia as well, though the scale was reduced compared to previous years. While parades and "Immortal Regiment" marches took place in Vladivostok, Krasnoyarsk, and Saint Petersburg, many cities canceled parades entirely in favor of virtual events.
Among the foreign guests invited to the event were Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, the King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim, and Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Additionally, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was seen meeting with Putin at the Kremlin prior to the parade. He attended the ceremony as the sole representative from the European Union.
In contrast to the 80th-anniversary parade held last year, which saw the attendance of 27 leaders—including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazil’s Lula da Silva—the presence of world leaders this year was notably lower.
Moscow observes this day annually to commemorate the defeat of Nazi Germany by the Soviet Union, and it is a national holiday in the country. However, celebrations across various parts of Russia were quite limited this time.
Prior to the festivities, Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a three-day ceasefire, which was announced by US President Donald Trump on Friday. Following the parade, the Russian Defense Ministry accused Kyiv of violating the ceasefire, though Ukraine has yet to offer an immediate comment.
For the first time in several years, the Victory Day parade in Moscow featured no armored vehicles or ballistic missiles. Instead, military personnel marched across Red Square under tight security.
While the three-day ceasefire appeared to be in effect during the parade in Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry later claimed that Ukraine had breached the agreement. Nevertheless, they stated that Moscow would continue to observe the ceasefire.
Earlier, Putin had declared a ceasefire for May 8–9, while Kyiv had called for an indefinite ceasefire starting from May 6. However, both sides have accused each other of widespread ceasefire violations on the battlefield.