While his war in Ukraine continued, Russia held its annual parade of victory day in Moscow on Friday, with foreign leaders around the world, including one of an EU member state.
While Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva were among the most eminent international guests, Slovaquian Prime Minister Robert Fico stood out as the only leader in the 27 -member block.
Fico, who openly challenged the European Union policies on Ukraine, has increased the warnings of the head of the EU foreign policy, Kaja Kallas, against the visit of Moscow, saying: “No one can order me from where to go or not to go.”
Serbia president Aleksandar Vučić, made his first trip to Russia since the invasion on Wednesday, despite the EU message that Moscow's visit could derail the ambitions of Serbia to join the block.
The Kremlin said Putin will have bilateral meetings with him and Fico on Friday.
Putin met the leaders of Cuba and Venezuela on Wednesday, who also came to Moscow. He and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro signed an agreement on strategic partnership and cooperation.
The leaders of Vietnam and Burkina Faso, as well as the presidents of several former Soviet nations, were also at the event.
Victory day, which is celebrated in Russia on May 9, is the most important popular festival in the country and is celebrated with a large military parade on the Red Square.
The parade and other ceremonies are the key to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his attempts to project an image of Russia as an important international actor, while his total war against neighboring Ukraine continues.
Speaking during the parade, Putin praised the Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, saying that “we are proud of their courage and their determination, their spiritual force which has always brought us victory”.
Subsequently, Putin hugged the hand of Russian military officers who led the troops in the Red square and spoke to a group of North Korean medals officers who watched the parade, hugging one of them.
Last month, Putin thanked North Korea for having fought alongside the Russian troops against the Ukrainian forces and greeted their sacrifices while Pyongyang confirmed its deployment for the first time.
Russia has become a pariah state since its large -scale invasion of Ukraine at the beginning of 2022 and faced several cycles of heavy sanctions by the West.
Editor • Rory Elliott Armstrong
