3 weeks ago
1
Russian President Vladimir Putin said connected Saturday (May 9, 2026) that his soldiers successful Ukraine were warring an "aggressive force" backed by each of NATO and described his warfare goals arsenic "just", successful a combative code to the annual Victory Day parade connected Red Square.
Mr. Putin has made the representation of the Soviet triumph implicit Nazi Germany successful World War II a cardinal communicative of his 25-year rule, and authorities typically people the parade with pomp and grandeur.
But a spate of Ukrainian long-range attacks successful caller weeks prompted the Kremlin to ramp up information measures and downsize this year's celebrations.
The parade was vastly scaled backmost compared to erstwhile years, with nary subject hardware connected show for the archetypal clip successful astir 2 decades and lone a fistful of overseas dignitaries successful attendance — astir of them leaders of Russia's adjacent allies.
Both Moscow and Kyiv agreed to observe a three-day ceasefire implicit the event, pursuing a last-minute entreaty from U.S. President Donald Trump. Moscow had threatened a "massive" onslaught connected cardinal Kyiv if Ukraine disrupted the proceedings.
In an code to the parade, attended by Russian subject units arsenic good arsenic soldiers from North Korea, Mr. Putin invoked the Soviet triumph to rally enactment for his service successful Ukraine.
"The large feat of the procreation of victors inspires the soldiers carrying retired the goals of the peculiar subject cognition today," Mr. Putin said.
"They are confronting an assertive unit equipped and supported by the full NATO bloc. And contempt this, our heroes determination forward," helium said. "I firmly judge that our origin is just," helium added later.
Three-day ceasefire
After two failed attempts astatine truces this week by some Russia and Ukraine, Mr. Trump announced connected Friday (May 8, 2026) a three-day ceasefire betwixt some sides would travel into effect from May 9.
"Hopefully, it is the opening of the extremity of a precise long, deadly, and hard fought War," Mr. Trump posted connected his Truth Social network, adding the ceasefire would beryllium accompanied by a captive exchange.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree connected Friday (May 8, 2026) ordering the Ukrainian subject not to onslaught the parade and successful a abstracted connection confirmed his authorities would adhere to the ceasefire to alteration the swap of 1,000 detainees from each warring side.
"Red Square is little important to america than the lives of Ukrainian prisoners who tin beryllium returned home," Mr. Zelensky said, referring to the historical tract successful the Russian superior wherever the yearly lawsuit is held. Both the Ukrainian aerial unit and Russian Defence Ministry reported less drone attacks overnight.
Now successful its 5th year, the warfare has killed hundreds of thousands of radical and spiralled into Europe's deadliest since World War II. U.S.-mediated talks connected ending the warring person shown small advancement since February, erstwhile Washington shifted absorption to its warfare against Iran.
Before Mr. Trump's announcement connected Friday (May 8, 2026), Mr. Zelensky had balked astatine the thought of a truce implicit the parade and warned Moscow's allies against attending.
Russia had threatened a monolithic onslaught connected the bosom of Kyiv if Ukraine disrupted the commemoration and urged overseas diplomats to permission the Ukrainian superior up of the event. Security was choky successful the superior earlier the parade, with AFP reporters seeing bare streets. Mobile net was besides disrupted.
Only the leaders of Belarus, Malaysia and Laos, arsenic good arsenic Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico attended, successful opposition to high-profile visitors including China's Xi Jinping during past year's event.
Mr. Zelensky expressed anticipation connected Friday (May 8, 2026) that U.S. envoys would sojourn Ukraine successful the coming weeks to reboot talks connected ending the war.
