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CBS News among U.S. outlets allowed into Russia for Victory Day parade
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China’s Xi joins Putin for Victory Day parade meant to reassure Russians as Ukraine conflict drags on
Moscow — Countries across Europe marked the 80th anniversary on Thursday of VE, or Victory in Europe Day, celebrating the moment in 1945 at which fighting in World War II ended on the continent. But thanks to the time difference between Russia and Western Europe, Russia holds its Victory Day parade on May 9 every year, and CBS News was invited to witness the spectacle in Moscow on Friday.
The parade was months in the planning, and the preparations and security measures taken right ahead of it closed down central Moscow for several days before the event itself.
When Friday arrived, Moscow put on the show — an extravaganza of Russian troops from every branch of the military marching in unison, along with soldiers from the former Soviet Republics and a dizzying array of weaponry.
VYACHESLAV PROKOFYEV/POOL/AFP/Getty
There was even a guest contingent from China, Russia’s increasingly close ally. In the viewing stand, President Vladimir Putin sat right next to his guest of honor, Chinese President Xi Jinping. Brazil’s leader, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, was also in the crowd.
On one level, the parade was a celebration of Russia’s great victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
But it was also political theater of the highest order — with a weapons drive-by to remind the world that Russia is still a nuclear superpower.
Ulf Mauder/picture alliance/Getty
There were hugs and handshakes, also, with North Korean military officials, to show the Russian leader isn’t squeamish about his supporters.
In his speech, Putin alluded to Ukraine, acknowledging that Russia is going through a “difficult, watershed moment in its history,” but giving little in the way of specifics about what he calls his country’s “special military operation.”
“All of you on front lines, are our heroes,” he said, addressing Russian forces.
The display was meant to reinforce that message, and to reassure the Russian people that the pride and morale of their military has not been crushed by the grinding conflict on Russia’s western border.
Over the past three years, tens of thousands of Russian soldiers have been killed, and the fighting shows no signs of letting up.
GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/POOL/AFP/Getty
So, the parade was a celebration of victory over an old enemy, but also a distraction from the fact that any military victory over the new enemy, looks a long way off.
No one may have been more relieved that the event concluded peacefully than President Putin himself, as Ukrainian attacks — even on Moscow — are a very real threat. Ukrainian attack drones forced airports around the Russian capital to close this week.
contributed to this report.
CBS News among U.S. outlets allowed into Russia for Victory Day parade as Trump thaws relations with Moscow
Moscow — Preparations were well underway Thursday in Moscow for the annual “Victory Day” parade. The huge celebrations mark the former Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany in World War II, 80 years ago this year.
Dozens of world leaders invited by President Vladimir Putin have gathered in Moscow for the events, and the fact that our CBS News team was allowed in to witness it all shows how much things have changed in just 100 days. U.S. relations with Russia under President Trump have thawed, and American media have been invited in to see the grand spectacle of the Victory Day commemorations.
Thursday brought a dress rehearsal for the main event, a lavish military parade set to take place on May 9, the day on which Russia celebrates its historic victory over the Nazis. Due to the time difference between Russia and the Western European nations where the German surrender was cemented, the U.S. and its European allies mark the Victory in Europe on May 8 every year — the day on which Adolf Hitler’s forces capitulated to the Allies in 1945, ending World War II on the continent.
Putin’s guest of honor this year, China’s President Xi Jinping, was already in town on Thursday. He’s the most powerful of several world leaders who have come to show that, despite international sanctions and widespread condemnation of Putin’s so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine, the Russian leader does have friends.
PAVEL BEDNYAKOV/POOL/AFP/Getty
According to China’s state-run media, the two leaders took advantage of Xi’s visit to sign more than 20 “bilateral cooperation documents,” covering issues including “global strategic stability, maintaining the authority of international law” and biosecurity. The two countries have emphasized their deepening ties for several years, with the Kremlin declaring in 2022 that Russia and China would strive to create a new “democratic world order.“
While the theme of the party in Moscow this week is an 80-year-old victory, fighting still rages in Ukraine, claiming Russian lives, and any victory in the contemporary conflict looks a long way off.
Ukrainians are dying, too — both soldiers and, this week, more civilians whom Ukrainian officials say were killed in a Russian drone and missile strike.
CBS News asked a group of Russian cheerleaders preparing for the events in Moscow what they hoped for at this stage in the Ukraine conflict, and in particular, about President Trump’s diplomatic push for a ceasefire, something their own president has thus far declined to agree to.
“I think it’s a great deal to stop the war,” said Mikael.
“I agree it’s important for everybody, for everyone — for our kids, young people,” said Elena.
Maxim Shemetov/REUTERS
It’s one thing to want peace, however, and quite another to get it.
President Putin declared more than a week ago that Russia would observe a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine to mark Victory Day, starting on Thursday. But even if Russian attacks do stop over the weekend, people on both sides of the border know the fighting will start again on Monday.
contributed to this report.
Ukraine says Russia attacking across entire front line despite Putin’s truce order
Ukraine said Russia was attacking across the front line on Thursday, calling Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order for a three-day truce, which he said would take effect Thursday morning, a “farce.”
The Russian army said it was responding to Ukrainian attacks but observing the truce, which Putin unilaterally ordered to coincide with a massive parade in Moscow to mark Victory Day, which Russia observes ever May 9 to commemorate the Soviet Union’s 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany’s invading forces.
Putin’s guest of honor this year, China’s President Xi Jinping, was already in Moscow Thursday ahead of the Victory Day events. He’s the most powerful of several world leaders attending to show that, despite international sanctions and widespread condemnation of Putin’s so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine, the Russian leader does have friends.
“Predictably, Putin’s ‘Parade ceasefire’ proves to be a farce,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said Thursday. “Russian forces continue to attack across the entire front line. From midnight to midday, Russia carried out 734 ceasefire violations and 63 assault operations.”
Ukraine would respond and share all information with its allies, Sybiga said.
Though Kyiv never agreed to the three-day truce, Russia accused Ukraine of violating it.
“The Russian Armed Forces are strictly observing the ceasefire. This includes no strikes by aircraft, missile forces, artillery or unmanned aerial vehicles,” Russia’s defense ministry said during a briefing. “Despite the announcement of the ceasefire, Ukrainian army units have not ceased hostilities against Russian troops.”
Alina Smutko/REUTERS
Ukraine’s air force earlier reported Russian guided bomb strikes on the northern region of Sumy.
“No missile attacks or attack drones were recorded in Ukrainian airspace. However, during the night, the enemy intensified tactical aviation strikes using guided aerial bombs in the Sumy region,” the air force said, after reporting several launches in the morning.
Earlier in the day, Russia struck a residential area near the town of Bilopillya, close to the border between Sumy and Russia’s Kursk region, Ukraine’s emergency services said.