Vladimir Putin presided over Russia's Victory Day celebrations with a grand parade in Moscow's Red Square, amidst heightened security due to recent Ukrainian strikes targeting the capital. The event saw participation from thousands of soldiers and various international leaders, with China's President Xi Jinping joining Putin as he addressed the gathering. The Russian president drew parallels between Russia's historical victory in World War Two and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which he termed a "special military operation." Putin asserted that the entire nation supported this military effort, now in its fourth year. The Victory Day parade notably included a column of trucks carrying combat drones, reflecting their significant use in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Russia announced a unilateral three-day ceasefire to coincide with the 80th-anniversary celebrations, which Ukraine dismissed as mere theatrics. Despite Russia's claims of adhering to the ceasefire, Ukraine accused it of launching thousands of attacks since its commencement. Meanwhile, Russia blamed Ukraine for numerous ceasefire violations. Security was especially tight in Moscow, with restrictions in place as the country commemorated the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany. Before Putin's speech, which included a minute of silence, Russian ground troops, some of whom had served in Ukraine, marched through Red Square. Putin reiterated Russia's stance as a bulwark against Nazism, Russophobia, and antisemitism, although his depiction of Ukraine's leadership as Nazis is widely rejected. China's Xi Jinping was a prominent guest at the event, symbolizing the strong ties between Russia and China, particularly against what they describe as the "collective West." Russian media highlighted the unprecedented level of relations between the two countries. In addition to Chinese troops, military contingents from North Korea, Vietnam, and Mongolia participated, although the North Koreans did not march. North Korea's growing cooperation with Russia was underscored by Kim Jong Un's visit to the Russian embassy in Pyongyang. The parade also featured leaders from countries like Brazil, Venezuela, Serbia, and Slovakia. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas had advised EU member states and candidate countries against attending the event due to Russia's actions in Ukraine. Despite this, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic attended, acknowledging potential repercussions for his decision. For Putin, Xi's presence was a diplomatic victory, and he praised the Chinese people for their historical contributions. However, Taiwan criticized the portrayal of history by Beijing and Moscow, noting that the Chinese communist forces did not significantly contribute to the war effort compared to the then-republican government of China. The parade showcased an array of Russian military equipment, including Yars missile systems and Su-25 jets. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously cautioned against attending the event due to safety concerns and urged international leaders to avoid traveling to Moscow. Mykhailo Samus, a Ukrainian military analyst, stated that Ukraine was unlikely to target the parade due to the presence of foreign dignitaries, but he considered it a legitimate military target if it were to be attacked. In his address, Zelensky expressed Ukraine's readiness for a genuine ceasefire and called on Russia to prove its willingness to end the war by ceasing missile and drone strikes. Despite the declared ceasefire, Ukraine reported numerous clashes and attacks by Russian forces. Ukrainian officials described the ceasefire as ineffective, with continuing hostilities in several regions. Russia's defense ministry claimed that Russian forces had ceased combat operations but responded to violations by Ukrainian forces. Zelensky dismissed Putin's ceasefire proposal as a "game" and called for a longer truce of at least 30 days, a stance supported by Ukraine's allies in Europe and the United States. Zelensky mentioned his conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, reiterating his commitment to a lasting peace and advocating for an extended ceasefire as a genuine step towards ending the conflict. President Trump echoed the call for an unconditional ceasefire and warned of potential sanctions against parties not adhering to the peace efforts.