Vladimir Putin says army fighting ‘aggressive’ NATO-backed force in Victory Parade address

Russian President Vladimir Putin used his Victory Day parade address on May 9 to justify the war in Ukraine, calling it a fight against an 'aggressive force' backed by NATO. He linked the current conflict to the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, framing Russia’s military operation as a continuation of that legacy. The event was significantly downsized compared to past years, with no military equipment displayed and only a handful of foreign leaders—Belarusian President Lukashenko, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith, and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico—in attendance. Security measures were heightened after recent Ukrainian long-range strikes, and a three-day ceasefire was agreed upon following negotiations led by former US President Donald Trump. Trump announced the truce on Truth Social, stating it would include a prisoner exchange involving 1,000 detainees from each side. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed adherence to the ceasefire, prioritizing the release of Ukrainian prisoners over the parade. Both sides reported fewer drone attacks overnight, marking a brief lull in hostilities. Putin’s speech emphasized the resilience of Russian forces, claiming they were advancing despite NATO support for Ukraine. He described the conflict as a 'just cause,' while Moscow had earlier threatened a 'massive strike' on Kyiv if the parade was disrupted. Ukrainian officials had initially resisted a truce, with Zelensky warning Russia’s allies against attending the event. The Victory Day commemorations, marking the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany, have become a platform for Putin to rally domestic support for the war. This year’s scaled-back event reflected the shifting dynamics of the conflict, now in its fifth year and Europe’s deadliest since World War II. US-mediated peace talks have stalled, with Washington redirecting focus to its conflict with Iran.