Twenty-nine world leaders are expected at Moscow’s World War II victory commemorations, Kremlin says

May 6, 2025 Diana Zapata News, Politics 0
The Victory Day parade on Red Square in 2024.
| Published May 6, 2025

The Kremlin insists it’s still planning a three-day ceasefire – after both sides in the Ukraine war launched strikes that killed civilians. Russia also says American Second World War veterans will attend Moscow’s 9 May Victory Day parade.

Moscow is set to host its annual Victory Day parade on May 9, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany. The Kremlin has announced that 29 foreign leaders are expected to attend, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Other attendees include leaders from countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Cuba, and Vietnam .

The parade is anticipated to feature military units from 13 countries, including China, Egypt, and Vietnam. However, Ukrainian authorities have warned that foreign troops marching alongside Russian soldiers would be seen as endorsing Russia’s actions in Ukraine .

In the lead-up to the event, Moscow has experienced drone attacks attributed to Ukraine. On May 5 and 6, Ukrainian drones targeted the Russian capital, leading to temporary closures of all four international airports and several regional airports. While no casualties were reported, debris from intercepted drones caused damage to infrastructure and an apartment building .

In response, Russia has launched retaliatory strikes on Ukrainian cities, including Kharkiv, Kramatorsk, and Odesa, resulting in civilian casualties and property damage. The ongoing conflict continues to strain relations between Russia and Ukraine, with international calls for a ceasefire remaining unheeded.

As Moscow prepares for the Victory Day celebrations, heightened security measures are in place to ensure the safety of attendees and participants. The international community watches closely as the situation develops, with implications for global diplomatic relations and regional stability.

The upcoming Victory Day parade in Moscow, with 29 world leaders attending amid ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks, carries far-reaching political and strategic implications:

1. Legitimization of Russia on the Global Stage

  • Diplomatic Optics: High-profile attendance suggests that many countries, particularly in the Global South (e.g., China, Brazil, Egypt), are still willing to engage publicly with Russia, despite its ongoing war in Ukraine.

  • Challenge to Western Isolation Efforts: The parade undermines Western attempts to diplomatically isolate Russia, signaling a shift toward a more multipolar global order.

2. Tensions with the West

  • NATO Reaction: The presence of foreign troops marching alongside Russian soldiers, especially from countries with formal neutrality or complex alignments, may heighten friction with NATO and the EU.

  • Ukraine’s Position Weakened: Kyiv may interpret the event as a soft endorsement of Russia’s wartime legitimacy, leading to frustration and a potential recalibration of its diplomatic strategy.

3. Heightened Security and Military Signaling

  • Escalation Risks: Ukraine’s drone attacks near the event reflect its capability and intent to disrupt symbolic Russian state functions, possibly prompting more aggressive Russian retaliation.

  • Show of Strength: Russia’s inclusion of foreign military units in the parade serves as both a display of international support and a strategic message of resilience and alliance-building.

4. Domestic and International Propaganda Value

  • Russian Narrative Boost: Domestically, the event supports Putin’s portrayal of Russia as a global power standing against Western hegemony.

  • Global Messaging: Internationally, Russia may leverage the optics of foreign participation to sway neutral countries or reinforce ties with emerging powers.

5. Global Strategic Realignment

  • Deepening East-South Cooperation: The attendance of leaders from China, Vietnam, and African nations reflects deepening cooperation outside the Western sphere.

  • Divided Global Order: The world is increasingly split between U.S.-aligned democracies and a bloc of states maintaining—or strengthening—ties with Russia despite the war.

Overall Takeaway:
Moscow’s Victory Day parade, attended by 29 foreign leaders amid wartime drone attacks, underscores a shifting global landscape where Russia remains far from isolated. Despite Western sanctions and condemnation, key countries continue to engage diplomatically, reflecting a divided world order. The event serves as both a powerful symbol of Russia’s enduring alliances and a challenge to Western efforts to contain its influence, all while tensions with Ukraine and NATO remain dangerously high.

SOURCE: THE STRAITS TIMES – Twenty-nine world leaders are expected at Moscow’s World War II victory commemorations, Kremlin says
REUTERS – US WWII veterans will attend Russia’s Victory Day parade, Kremlin says
THE MOSCOW TIMES – Kremlin Says 29 Foreign Leaders to Attend Victory Day Parade in Moscow

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