Putin Displays Strength Amid Prolonged Cease-Fire Negotiations

In a show of military pageantry, President Vladimir Putin embraced a North Korean general, attentively accompanied China’s leader, acknowledged soldiers’ sacrifices, and for the first time, showcased Russian-made drones parading through Red Square.

Presiding over the 80th anniversary of the Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany, Putin underscored the key elements that have enabled Russia’s ongoing military campaign in Ukraine to extend into its fourth year.

Although Russia’s initial invasion in 2022 encountered severe setbacks, the situation on the battlefield has shifted. Support from allied sources—including North Korean military personnel and supplies, Chinese oil imports and technological assistance, alongside the resilience of Russian troops and continuous drone deployments—has bolstered Moscow’s efforts.

Each of these contributors was symbolically present during the Kremlin’s elaborate display of Soviet-style militarism, sending a clear message that Russia remains steadfast in its campaign.

Addressing over 11,500 military personnel gathered for the parade, including more than 1,500 actively engaged in the Ukraine conflict, Putin declared, “Truth and justice are on our side.”

He further emphasized the unity of the nation, stating that society and the people fully back the participants of the so-called “special military operation,” the Kremlin’s term for the war.