Putin Says Russian Army Fighting ‘Aggressive’ NATO-Backed

Russian President Defends Ukraine War in Victory Day Speech

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russian troops are fighting an “aggressive” force backed by NATO during his address at the annual Victory Day parade in Moscow.

According to Beyond Time News, Putin used the ceremony in Red Square to defend Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine and praise Russian soldiers involved in the conflict.

He described the war objectives as “just” and said Russian forces were confronting a NATO-supported enemy. Putin also linked the ongoing war to the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany during World War II.

Victory Parade Held Under Tight Security

Authorities increased security in Moscow after recent Ukrainian drone attacks. As a result, this year’s Victory Day celebrations appeared smaller than previous editions.

Unlike earlier parades, organizers did not display military hardware during the event. Only a limited number of foreign leaders attended the ceremony, including representatives from Belarus, Malaysia, Laos, and Slovakia.

According to Beyond Time News, Russian officials also reduced public activities and tightened restrictions across the capital ahead of the parade.

Russia and Ukraine Observe Temporary Ceasefire

Russia and Ukraine agreed to a three-day ceasefire during the Victory Day events after an appeal by Donald Trump.

Trump expressed hope that the pause in fighting could help open the door for broader peace efforts. He also mentioned a possible prisoner exchange between the two sides.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian forces would avoid targeting the parade. He said protecting prisoners and civilians remained more important than symbolic military events.

Read more:Russia Warns Diplomatic Missions to Evacuate Kyiv Over Possible Retaliatory Strike

Drone Attacks Decline During Truce

Both Russia and Ukraine reported fewer drone strikes overnight following the ceasefire announcement.

According to Beyond Time News, the conflict has now entered its fifth year and remains Europe’s deadliest war since World War II. Despite several diplomatic efforts, negotiations to end the fighting have shown little progress in recent months.

Kremlin Uses Soviet Victory Symbolism

Putin once again used the Soviet victory narrative to strengthen public support for the military campaign. He praised Russian troops and called them heroes defending the country against external threats.

However, the scaled-down parade and heightened security reflected ongoing tensions and concerns over the war’s impact inside Russia.