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Putin praises Russian troops fighting against Ukraine at Victory Day parade, slams NATO

By The South Asia Times

MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday hailed Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, saying they are standing against forces backed by the NATO military alliance, during Moscow’s annual Victory Day celebrations marking the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

Speaking at a military parade on Red Square, Putin said Russian servicemen involved in what Moscow calls its “special military operation” are defending the country’s interests and carrying forward the legacy of the wartime generation, according to Anadolu Agency.

He said Russia’s defense industry was increasing production of modern weapons and military equipment based on battlefield experience gained during the conflict.

The event featured thousands of troops, military hardware and flyovers, with soldiers involved in the Ukraine war participating alongside cadets and units from various branches of the Russian armed forces. Servicemen from North Korea also took part in the parade.

Several foreign leaders attended the ceremony, including Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The commemorations came amid a fragile ceasefire announced separately by Russia and Ukraine for the May 8-9 period. Both sides later accused each other of violating the truce.

US President Donald Trump said Friday that Moscow and Kyiv had agreed to a ceasefire and a planned prisoner exchange involving 1,000 captives from each side, while talks on ending the war continued.