Russia Marks 80th Victory Day Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict and Global Diplomatic Push
Russia celebrated the 80th anniversary of victory in WWII with a military parade, amidst heightened security and ongoing drone attacks from Ukraine.
Summary
On May 9, 2025, Russia celebrated the 80th anniversary of its WWII victory with a significant military parade in Moscow. President Putin welcomed a record number of global leaders, including Xi Jinping and Lula da Silva, showcasing Russia’s military might and aiming to counter Western perceptions of its isolation amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict. While Putin declared a 72-hour ceasefire, fighting continued on the ground, and the event was marred by Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Moscow. International responses included a meeting in Ukraine endorsing a special tribunal for war crimes, indicating a robust push for accountability against Russia.
Sources (13)
- Putin's portrayal of Victory Day has shifted from honoring the past to using it as a propaganda tool, linking current conflicts to historical events in a bid to manipulate public sentiment.
- The possibility of peace is overshadowed by Russia's unilateral ceasefire proposal, viewed as a tactic to create favorable conditions for its military showcase rather than a genuine effort to end hostilities.
- International reactions have been mixed, with notable displays of support for Ukraine from European leaders contrasting with the attendance of foreign dignitaries at the Russian parade.
PBS NewsHour·13d· "…Victory Day, which Russia marks on May 9, is the country’s most important secular holiday."
Al Jazeera·13d· "…The show of force was billed by Moscow as proof that the country has not been isolated by the war."
Al Jazeera·13d· "…The 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 amid the conflict in Ukraine that has dragged into a fourth year."
The Guardian·13d· "…Over his two and a half decades in power, Victory Day has emerged as the centrepiece of Putin’s vision of Russian identity."
CNN·13d· "…But since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Victory Day has become more of a propaganda exercise, with Putin framing the war against Russia’s much smaller neighbor as a continuation of what Russians call the Great Patriotic War."
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