At Moscow’s Victory Day parade, President Vladimir Putin marked the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany, drawing on familiar themes of unity, sacrifice, and national pride.
More than 20 world leaders attended, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
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Over 11,500 military personnel took part, with 1,500 soldiers from the war in Ukraine among them. Parade squads from 13 “friendly” countries also joined the event.
Yet, amid the red banners and military displays, the occasion also served as a platform to defend Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Here’s what Putin said—and what he left unsaid.
“The whole country... supports the special military operation.”
Referring to his war in Ukraine as a “special military operation,” Putin said: “The whole country, society, and people support [it]. We are proud of their courage and determination.”The line echoes his long-standing claim that Russian troops are continuing the WWII fight against “fascism.”
“May 9 is our most important, sacred holiday.”
Putin opened by calling Victory Day Russia’s most important celebration. He said the country would “always remember the feat of the fighters who laid down their lives for the victory over Nazism.” Today, that memory is used to rally support for a new war.
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“We will never accept the distortion of [history].”
Putin warned against any attempt to “slander the true winners” of WWII. He said Russians must “firmly defend our national interests, our thousand-year history, culture, and traditional values.”
The statement comes as US President Donald Trump claimed on Truth Social that the United States did “far more” than its allies to secure victory in World War II.
“Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day,” Trump wrote Friday morning, “but we did more than any other country, by far, in producing a victorious result in World War II.”
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“We will always remember... the Second Front in Europe.”
In a rare nod to the WWII alliance, Putin said, “We will always remember that the opening of the Second Front in Europe after the decisive battles on the territory of the Soviet Union brought Victory closer.”
But many of those same countries are now backing Ukraine – financially, diplomatically, and militarily – against Moscow’s invasion.
“The Soviet Union took upon itself the most ferocious, merciless blows of the enemy.”
Putin listed key WWII battles – Moscow, Stalingrad, the Kursk Bulge – and praised Soviet troops who “stood to the death on all heights, bridgeheads and frontiers.”
The rhetoric draws a straight line from past sacrifice to current conflict – yet avoids acknowledging the thousands of Ukrainian civilians killed by Russian strikes on cities like Mariupol and Kherson.
“We will continue to look up to veterans.”
Putin said veterans remain a model for Russia because of their “sincere love for the Motherland” and “determination to defend their Motherland.”
Meanwhile, critics of the current war face prison time for speaking out.
“We honor every veteran of the Great Patriotic War.”
Putin credited residents of Central Asia and the Transcaucasus with vital wartime support. “Trains with everything the front needed were moving smoothly from here... They shared shelter, bread, and warmth,” he said.
But many of these same former Soviet republics are distancing themselves diplomatically from Moscow as the Ukraine war drags on.
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