Russia stages massive victory day parade, Putin hails troops in Ukraine as foreign leaders attend

Russia marked the 80th anniversary of its victory over Nazi Germany with a grand military parade on Red Square in Moscow, showcasing its military strength amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. The event, held on May 9—Russia’s most important secular holiday—was attended by several foreign leaders, underlining the Kremlin’s efforts to project international influence and defy Western isolation.

Presidents Xi Jinping of China and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, along with Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, joined President Vladimir Putin for the commemorations. Vučić’s visit marks his first trip to Russia since the invasion…