In a scaled-back Victory Day parade on Moscow’s Red Square, Vladimir Putin told Russians his soldiers in Ukraine face an “aggressive force” backed by NATO and said his war aims are “just.” Speaking alongside Russian units and troops from North Korea, he invoked the Soviet victory to bolster support for the campaign despite the reduced ceremony.
Russia held a scaled-back Victory Day parade, citing threats from Ukraine that reduced military displays marking the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany. As worries deepen around the war, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire proposal backed by both Russia and Ukraine, aiming to de-escalate tensions. The conflict, however, continues to cast a shadow over Russia’s observance.
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Russia is gearing up for Victory Day, but the usual spectacle in Moscow is being overshadowed by the war in Ukraine. A unilateral ceasefire collapsed rapidly, with both sides trading blame as fighting continued. Security concerns and domestic unease are driving a more restrained Red Square event, including the absence of military hardware this year.
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