The Russian leader addressed the parade participants in an attempt to emphasize his country’s military capabilities and repeated his threat of nuclear weapons.
In the speech, Putin explained that his country will “never forget” World War II, but said that Russia is currently going through a difficult period.
“Dear friends, Russia is now going through a difficult, decisive period. The fate of the homeland, its future depends on each of us, V. Putin said during the Victory Day parade. “Today, on Victory Day, we realize it even more acutely.”
Putin said that Russia will not tolerate any threats and that its strategic nuclear forces are always ready.
“Russia will do everything to prevent a global clash, but at the same time we will not allow anyone to threaten us. Our strategic forces are always ready,” V. Putin threatened.
The Russian dictator claimed that the history of the Second World War is being distorted and that “Western elites” are fomenting wars around the world. He used the speech to send a message to Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine, trying to boost their morale.
Since coming to power, V. Putin has made May 9 an important part of his political agenda, Sky News writes.
Foreign leaders arrived
Several leaders of different foreign countries also visited the Russian Victory Day celebration.
Leaders of Russia’s closest allies, the members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakh President Kasym-Jomart Tokaev, Kyrgyz leader Sadyr Zhaparov and Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon came to the parade.
Leaders from other parts of the world also visited the commemoration – the head of Turkmenistan Serdars Byrdymuchamedov, the president of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, the president of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, the head of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau Sisoku Embalo and the president of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyojev.
For his part, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was in Moscow on Wednesday evening, he arrived at the regional summit of the Eurasian Economic Union, but he did not appear at the Victory Day parade.
Columns of military equipment were rolling on Red Square during the parade, while military planes flew over the heads of the parade participants.
Medal-clad veterans review the parade with Putin and other members of Russia’s elite, many of them wearing the black and orange St. George’s ribbon. Foreign leaders visited
Traditional May 9 The military parade is held annually to commemorate the Soviet Union’s victory over Hitler’s Germany in World War II, and is the third such parade since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Western countries celebrate Victory Day on May 8.
In many regions of Russia, parades commemorating the victory in World War II have been canceled due to security concerns. For example, there will be no major ceremonies in the regions of Bryansk and Kursk, which border Ukraine and are under constant shelling.
