Global Leaders to Attend Russia's Victory Day Parade Amid Heightened Security

Russia will celebrate the 80th anniversary of its World War II victory over Nazi Germany on May 9, 2025, with a grand military parade in Moscow's Red Square. The event will be attended by 29 foreign leaders, which underlines Russia's efforts to showcase its foreign alliances amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Prominent guests include Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Xi's visit underscores China's thawing ties with Russia, with bilateral trade and collaboration within the BRICS grouping on the agenda. Brazil's participation signals its outreach to Russia amid global divisions over the Ukraine war.

The other notable leaders in attendance are President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro, and Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico. Fico's attendance is particularly notable, as it is a divergence from the European Union's collective stance on Russia, having expressed respect for historical sacrifices as his reason for attending.

The parade is being held under the elevated security fears following Ukrainian drone strikes recently targeted Moscow. In response, Russia has set up extensive air defenses and unilaterally declared a ceasefire from May 8 to May 10 to safeguard the festivities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the ceasefire as a "theatrical performance," stating that Ukraine was not informed about the truce.

This Victory Day parade is not only a commemoration of past victories but also a strategic demonstration of Russia's current international relations and positioning amidst ongoing conflicts across the world.