Russia hosted its annual military parade in Moscow yesterday to commemorate Victory Day, attended by several political and military leaders from its allies and contributors to its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Leaders and dignitaries included China’s President Xi Jinping who was treated to a tea party, North Korean generals whose troops are fighting in Russia’s war against Ukraine, Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic, Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, ex-Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Venezuela’s President Nicholas Maduro, Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel and President of Burkina Faso Ibrahim Traoré.
Some of Russia’s central Asian neighbours were also there including Kazakhistan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov and Turkmenistan’s Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.
The ceremony lacked the substantial Russian military hardware that used to be showcased prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Iranian Shahed Drones were displayed at the parade instead. The drones are mostly used to attack Ukrainian cities and civilians on a daily basis.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin demanded a three-day ceasefire from Ukraine to hold the parade, but Ukraine denied the offer sticking to its original proposal that was brokered by the US to accept a thirty-day ceasefire. Fighting continued along the Ukrainian frontlines with Russian troops conducting their daily assaults.
Russia commemorates Victory Day on May 9th, but Victory Day in the West is celebrated on May 8th when the actual surrender of the German forces in Europe took effect.
Newsroom
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