Putin Speaks at Victory Day Parade in Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia will always be victorious as he presided over a scaled-back Victory Day parade on Red Square in Moscow on Saturday. The annual commemoration of the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II featured no tanks, missiles or heavy armored vehicles for the first time in nearly two decades, limited instead to an Aurus limousine and a flyover by combat jets.

Heavy security blanketed the city amid fears of Ukrainian drone or missile strikes. " He told the crowd that the sacrifices of the World War II generation inspire Russian forces today as they confront an aggressive force armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc.

"I firmly believe that our cause is just," Putin said. The parade took place as a three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, announced by President Trump, appeared to be holding. No drone attacks were reported on Moscow or other Russian areas over the weekend after daily strikes the previous week.

Bombardment of Ukraine had also ceased. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree ordering Ukrainian forces not to attack the parade. He confirmed his government would adhere to the ceasefire and conduct a prisoner swap of 1,000 detainees from each side.

"Red Square is less important to us than the lives of Ukrainian prisoners who can be returned home," Zelensky said. The Kremlin had warned that any attack on the parade would trigger massive retaliation against Kyiv and advised foreign diplomats to evacuate the Ukrainian capital.

Putin also criticized NATO in his remarks while linking the current conflict to the Soviet victory in 1945. "The great feat of the generation of victors inspires the warriors carrying out the tasks of the special military operation today," he said. The scaled-down nature of the celebrations has been interpreted by some Western outlets as a sign of public fatigue with the war now in its fourth year.

Both sides had proclaimed dueling versions of a Victory Day truce, but initial reports indicated the pause in fighting was largely observed. Large-scale Russian bombardment of Ukraine stopped, and no Ukrainian drones reached Russian territory during the holiday.

Security measures in Moscow were significantly heightened. Authorities acknowledged the beefed-up presence was partly intended to protect Putin. The absence of traditional heavy weapons on Red Square marked a departure from pre-war pageantry that once featured columns of tanks and nuclear launchers.

In his address, Putin drew direct parallels between the fight against Nazi Germany and Russian operations in Ukraine. " The Russian leader stated that despite facing NATO-backed forces, Russian troops continue to advance. Foreign leaders stood alongside Putin during the parade, signaling continued diplomatic support from several nations.

“The great feat of the generation of victors inspires the soldiers carrying out the goals of the special military operation today. They are confronting an aggressive force armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc. And despite this, our heroes move forward. I firmly believe that our cause is just.”

The celebrations occurred against a backdrop of widespread reports of growing domestic dissatisfaction inside Russia with the protracted conflict. The muted tone of this year's events contrasted with the immense scale of Victory Day parades before the invasion of Ukraine.