What was Steven Seagal doing at Vladimir Putin's big Victory Day celebration? Here's what reports are saying
Steven Seagal, a long-time supporter of Vladimir Putin and now a Russian citizen, attended Russia's Victory Day parade in Moscow, marking the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat. He was seen alongside the Night Wolves biker club, drawing attention amidst a display of military strength. Oliver Stone, another prominent figure from American cinema, also attended the parade.
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
What role does Seagal play in Russian politics now?
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Who else from the West showed up in Moscow?
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
What happened at this year's Victory Day parade?
FAQs
American actor Steven Seagal was seen at Russia's Victory Day parade in Moscow, seated alongside the Night Wolves biker club The Hollywood star, who has been a close friend of Vladimir Putin , appeared on state television briefly, drawing attention amidst a show of military might and tense geopolitical overtones.The 1990s Hollywood action star was featured in state-controlled footage of the parade. The parade marked the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat, with world leaders and sophisticated Russian weaponry on display.Steven Seagal was one of the guests who stood out from the crowd as dozens of world leaders who support Russia gathered in Moscow to honour its military, according to state media.During the state media outlet Izvestia's coverage of Russia's Victory Day, Seagal made a brief appearance in close-up between shots of armoured vehicles thundering down the cobbled streets close to the Kremlin, as per a report by Business Insider.Over the weekend, a different video of the movie martial artist navigating the crowd on Friday also went viral on social media.According to a Moscow-based report by the French news agency Agence France-Presse, Seagal was spotted sitting close to the Night Wolves, a Russian nationalist motorcycle gang.Seagal, who became a citizen of Russia in 2016, has been outspoken in his support for Moscow and has been a long-time supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin.In order to promote Russian culture in the United States, Russia's foreign ministry appointed Seagal as a special representative in 2018. Seagal continued to openly support the Kremlin following its invasion of Ukraine.He wasn't the only well-known figure from American cinema who went to the parade on Friday. Photographers at the event included Oliver Stone , a three-time Oscar winner and the director of a four-hour documentary about Putin, as per a report by Business Insider.Their participation in the parade demonstrates how Russia aimed to increase the event's opulence in honour of the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's World War II surrender.A few world leaders, primarily from nations in central Asia and eastern Europe, had shown up to watch the event.However, Moscow put on a show for the approximately two dozen leaders who attended, including Xi Jinping of China, on Friday.Although Ukraine threatened Moscow with multiple waves of attempted drone strikes that temporarily closed nearby airports, the parade was supposed to be a show of Russia's military might and confidence.This year, Russia aimed to restore its military grandeur in its previously subdued Victory Day parades.The appearance of contemporary tanks, fighter jets, and drones made that clear. Su-25 fighter jets roared over central Moscow with coloured smoke, while modern T-90 main battle tanks, Tornado-S multiple rocket launchers, and Iskander and Yars ballistic missiles wheeled past a raft of cameras on the street.Russian attack drones were also included in the procession for the first time, as per a report by Business Insider.He is a known Putin supporter who was invited as part of Russia's cultural diplomacy.The Night Wolves, a Russian nationalist group with ties to the Kremlin.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
40 minutes ago
- Mint
Donald Trump says it might be good to let Ukraine and Russia ‘fight for a while'
During a meeting in the Oval Office with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday, President Donald Trump remarked that it might be better to allow Ukraine and Russia to 'fight for a while' before stepping in to separate them and pursue peace. Comparing the conflict to a quarrel between two young children who despise each other, Trump said he had conveyed this analogy to Russian President Vladimir Putin during their phone conversation the previous day. Chancellor Merz, seated alongside Trump, emphasised their shared condemnation of the ongoing war, describing it as 'terrible' and highlighting Trump's role as a key figure capable of ending the bloodshed. However, Merz was clear that Germany firmly supports Ukraine, noting that Kyiv targets only military objectives and not Russian civilians. 'We are trying to get them stronger,' he added. This marked the first in-person meeting between the two leaders, who exchanged pleasantries including a gift from Merz to Trump—a gold-framed birth certificate of Trump's grandfather, Friedrich Trump, who emigrated from Germany. Their discussions were expected to cover a range of issues including the war in Ukraine, trade relations, and NATO defence spending. Since assuming office on 6 May, Merz and Trump have spoken several times by phone, with German officials describing the relationship as 'decent' and Merz seeking to avoid the antagonism that characterised Trump's dealings with his predecessor, Angela Merkel. Merz, a conservative with a strong business background and former rival to Merkel, has been active in diplomatic efforts surrounding Ukraine, travelling to Kyiv shortly after taking office and hosting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin last week. A White House official indicated that Trump planned to raise topics such as Germany's defence spending, trade, Ukraine, and concerns over 'democratic backsliding,' suggesting that shared values like freedom of speech have deteriorated in Germany and should be restored. Merz responded by saying he was open to discussing German domestic politics but stressed that Germany generally refrains from commenting on American internal affairs. Under Merz's predecessor, Olaf Scholz, Germany became the second-largest supplier of military aid to Ukraine after the United States. Merz has pledged to maintain this support and recently committed to assisting Ukraine in developing long-range missile systems free from range restrictions. Despite his comments on letting the conflict play out, Trump did not rule out sanctions, warning that 'when I see the moment where it's not going to stop … we'll be very, very tough,' signalling that sanctions could be imposed on both Ukraine and Russia. Domestically, Merz's government is intensifying efforts to strengthen the German military, a campaign initiated by Scholz following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Trump, who criticised Germany during his first term for failing to meet NATO's 2% GDP defence spending target, is now demanding that allies increase their contributions to at least 5%. The upcoming NATO summit in the Netherlands later this month is seen as a crucial opportunity for Germany to commit to this higher spending level.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Shashi Tharoor-Led All-Party Delegation Meets US Vice President JD Vance
Washington: The All-Party Parliamentary Delegation led by Shashi Tharoor on Thursday had an "excellent meeting" with the United States Vice President J.D. Vance in Washington, briefing him about Operation Sindoor, terrorism faced by India and regional security. "The All Party Parliamentary Delegation led by Dr. Shashi Tharoor called on Vice President J D Vance this morning. The conversation focused on strengthening the India-US partnership including cooperation in counter-terrorism domain," the Embassy of India in the United States posted on X. The All Party Parliamentary Delegation led by Dr. @ShashiTharoor called on Vice President JD Vance @VP this morning. The conversation focused on strengthening the India - US partnership including cooperation in counter-terrorism domain. — India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) June 5, 2025 "Excellent meeting with Vice President J D Vance today in Washington D.C. with our delegation. We had comprehensive discussions covering a wide array of critical issues, from counter-terrorism efforts to enhancing technological cooperation. A truly constructive and productive exchange for strengthening India-US strategic partnership, with a great meeting of minds," Tharoor also posted on X after the meeting. Mr Vance was visiting India when the heinous Pahalgam terror attack took place on April 22. In a strong message of support and solidarity, the US Vice-President had also called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strongly condemn the terror attack and convey that the United States is ready to provide "all assistance" in the joint fight against terrorism. "Usha and I extend our condolences to the victims of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India. Over the past few days, we have been overcome with the beauty of this country and its people. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they mourn this horrific attack," he had posted on X. Earlier in the day, Mr Tharoor spoke with Ambassador Ken Juster at Council on Foreign Relations on India's fight against terrorism. On Wednesday, the all party delegation met prominent members of the Indian diaspora in USA. The delegation spoke about India's resolute and united stand against terrorism and the new normal created by India through Operation Sindoor. The Indian diaspora members shared their message of solidarity with the victims of terrorism and support for India's fight against terrorism. "Pleasure to host Chairman Shashi Tharoor and members of the Indian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. My colleagues and I expressed condolences for the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and reaffirmed Congress's commitment to the US-India partnership," said Gregory Meeks. Later, the delegation interacted with members of the Indian and American Press Corps at the Embassy. The delegation is engaging with members of the US Congress, US thinks tanks and media professionals to brief about Operation Sindoor, terrorism faced by India and regional security. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, delegation head and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, "What we are seeking to do in every country is to explain our version of events, our experience of the last few weeks, to seek the solidarity and understanding of those we meet and speak to." "I'm very pleased to say that so far, our batting average is over 100 -- in other words, every single person we have met so far has immediately not only condemned resolutely the terrorist attack upon India and expressed their outrage and their sympathy, but they have also explicitly endorsed India's right to defend itself against terrorism, and this kind of understanding has been most welcome." Tharoor described the Pahalgam terror attack as an egregious disruption during a time of economic and social optimism in Kashmir. "Kashmir was booming. Ordinary Kashmiris are benefiting from vast numbers of tourists coming in, putting money into their hands and their pockets. It was a lovely time. And here's this innocent group of holiday tourists on a dappled meadow in Kashmir being murdered in cold blood by people coming and asking their religion and shooting them between the eyes," he said. "It really was a sickening outrage, and the nation rose as one to support whatever the government chose to do, and what the government chose to do in the end was what most of us would have wanted," he added. He also explained India's calibrated military response and eventual ceasefire. "If you were to go back and look at the briefings the government gave each morning, the message is very clear: we are hitting them because they are hitting us. If they stop, we'll stop. And after 88 hours, the Pakistani Director General of Military Operations reached out to his Indian counterpart and said, let's call it off. And we called it off," Tharoor said. The delegation includes a diverse political mix, with members such as Shambhavi Choudhary of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Sarfaraz Ahmad of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Milind Murli Deora of the Shiv Sena, Bhubaneswar Kalita and Tejasvi Surya of the BJP, and GM Harish Balayogi of the Telugu Desam Party, a National Democratic Alliance partner.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
After Harvard, these 60+ universities are now under Trump radar. Check the list
Billions Frozen, Freedoms Challenged Live Events Targeting DEI and Campus Protests A Growing List of Institutions Under Fire (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Trump administration is ramping up pressure on American higher education, launching over 100 federal investigations since May 2024. Prestigious institutions like Harvard and Columbia are now at risk of losing student visa privileges, research funding, or even accreditation as part of a sweeping campaign against what officials call 'ideological indoctrination' and rising antisemitism on has already been hit with a six-month freeze on foreign student visas, while Columbia faces possible loss of accreditation. These actions signal a broader push by the administration to confront diversity programs, gender identity policies, and responses to pro-Palestinian protests—issues officials say promote biased or unconstitutional than 60 universities are currently under active investigation. These include elite schools such as Yale, MIT , and Berkeley, as well as large public institutions like the University of Michigan and the University of Washington. The Department of Education has opened at least 104 inquiries, with 70 focused on colleges and universities—many of them nationally fallout has already begun. Federal research grants—particularly in fields like climate science, sociology, and public policy—are being delayed or frozen. At Harvard, the visa freeze has caused significant disruption for international students and are pushing back, accusing the administration of threatening not just funding, but the core values of academic freedom and institutional autonomy.'It's no longer just about student conduct or curriculum—it's about control,' said one Ivy League administrator who requested to Education Week, at least 52 universities are under scrutiny specifically for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. The administration claims such initiatives promote race-based programming and violate constitutional principles. Other investigations relate to antisemitism, gender identity policies, and responses to the Gaza Trump administration argues that the measures aim to protect Jewish students and dismantle 'leftist indoctrination machines.' But critics say the moves are ideologically driven, not universities that have tried to comply—such as Northwestern, which adopted anti-discrimination reforms—have been added to the list, raising concerns about the motives behind the list of targeted universities spans public flagships, Ivy League schools, STEM-focused institutions, and liberal arts colleges. Among them:MITUniversity of California, BerkeleyUniversity of MichiganUniversity of PennsylvaniaDuke UniversityCornell UniversityUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of WashingtonVanderbilt UniversityGeorgetown UniversityArizona State UniversityRutgers UniversityCarnegie Mellon UniversityRice UniversityUniversity of ChicagoNew York UniversityUniversity of Oregon Washington University in St. LouisNorthwestern UniversityUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham Western Carolina University(And many more...)Some schools are being investigated for minor compliance failures like incomplete foreign gift disclosures, while others are under scrutiny for allowing or failing to respond to student NextWith billions in federal funding on the line and political pressure mounting, American higher education is bracing for a prolonged ideological clash. University leaders warn that these investigations could reshape campus governance and stifle academic freedom, especially for international students, minority scholars, and those involved in activist the list of investigated institutions continues to grow, so does the uncertainty surrounding the future of higher education under a second Trump term.
