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Associated Press
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Global Times: Xi attends Russia's Victory Day celebrations in Red Square
BEIJING, May 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese President Xi Jinping attended on Friday celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War in Moscow. Leaders from more than 20 countries and international organizations were invited to the events, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Xi was welcomed by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Friday morning. The leaders then walked to the Red Square together and took their seats at the main reviewing stand, according to Xinhua. At 10:00 am local time, as the chimes of the Kremlin clock rang out, the celebrations began. As the military band played The Sacred War, the honor guards marched in. President Putin delivered a speech at the parade. According to a release from the Kremlin, Putin said that Russian people 'remember the lessons of World War II (WWII) and will never agree with the distortion of those events or attempts to justify the murderers and slander the true victors.' 'We highly appreciate the contribution made to our common struggle by the Allied armies, members of the Resistance, the courageous people of China, and all those who fought for a peaceful future,' said the Russian president. May 9 marks the day of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War. 80 years ago, the army and the people of the Soviet Union fought dauntlessly to drive the German fascists out of their homeland and went on with soldiers and civilians from other countries to conquer Berlin, gaining victory in the battlefield of the World Anti-fascist War in Europe. Aspiration for peace Following Putin's speech, the grand military parade began as the military band played the Russian national anthem and gun salutes echoed across the Red Square. Marching in unison, the formations passed through the square one after another, Xinhua reported. Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov reviewed the grand parade, which involved over 11,000 troops and 183 WWII and advanced weapons systems, according to Tass news agency. In the 'historical' part of the parade, Russian service members, dressed in uniforms from the era of the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War, proudly carried the military flags and weapons of that time, evoking memories of the years of resistance against fascism, according to Xinhua. In the 'modern' part, formations of Russia's various military branches and modern weaponry units passed by the reviewing stand. The Russian Aerospace Forces' flight formations roared overhead, soaring across the skies above the Red Square, according to the report. WWII T-34 tanks, a major symbol of the Victory, led the mechanized column during the military parade on Red Square, as per tradition, Tass reported. For the first time, a column of unmanned systems troops took part in the military parade on Moscow's Red Square, said Tass, noting that Russia's Missile Troops and Strategic Missile Force were represented at the military parade as well. Armed forces formations from more than 10 countries, including China, were also invited to participate in the parade, said Xinhua. The Global Times has learned that 119 service members from the PLA Guard of Honor participated in the military parade, of whom 102 appeared on Red Square. Their average height was 1.87 meters, and their average age was 20. In 2015, the PLA Guard of Honor participated for the first time in Russia's military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War. Analysts view the latest invitation as an important tribute to the China-Russia friendship forged in the anti-fascist war, a resolute defense of the just legacy of WWII, and a powerful reaffirmation of both countries' commitment to global peace. As troops of the PLA honor guard marched in gallant array with high morale as well as firm and forceful steps on Friday, President Xi stood up to greet them, China Central Television reported. 'Participating in this celebration showcases the Chinese military's image and conveys our nation's aspiration for peace and commitment to safeguarding it,' said Zhang Dingxin, Commander of the PLA Honor Guard. Ahead of the mission, the unit engaged in focused study sessions on World War II history, particularly the Soviet Union's role in the Great Patriotic War, to deepen their understanding of the event's significance. 'We represent our country's image and fulfill the sacred mission of safeguarding peace. As our nation grows stronger, Chinese soldiers are ever more confident and capable of contributing to global peace and development,' Wang Zihe, a member of the honor guard, told the Global Times. Take history as mirror Following the celebrations, Xi, along with other leaders, walked from the Red Square to Alexander Garden, where they laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and observed a moment of silence, per Xinhua. In a signed article published Wednesday by the Russian Gazette newspaper, Xi said the profound friendship forged with blood and lives in the World Anti-Fascist War has become an inexhaustible source of the everlasting amity between China and Russia. He said historical memory and truth will not fade with the passage of time. They serve as inspirations that mirror the present and illuminate the future. 'We must draw wisdom and strength from the great victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, and resolutely resist all forms of hegemonism and power politics,' reads Xi's signed article, per Xinhua. During his meeting with Putin on Thursday in Moscow, Xi said that history and reality have fully proved that continuing to develop and deepen China-Russia relations is integral to carrying forward the friendship between the two peoples from generation to generation, per Xinhua. As Moscow commemorated the victory in the Great Patriotic War, Global Times reporters observed enthusiastic crowds cheering and waving Russian and Soviet Victory Day flags. Among the spectators, the Nikolayevic family stood out. Komarov Ilya Nikolaevich, whose father fought in the 1945 liberation of Berlin, was joined by his wife, Maria and their 11-year-old daughter Sofia, both dressed in Soviet Red Army uniforms to honor the occasion. 'Victory Day is a solemn and moving moment for me,' Ilya told the Global Times. 'Without that victory 80 years ago, we wouldn't be here today.' This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Ilya expressed keen interest in China's commemorative events, viewing them as part of humanity's shared struggle for peace. 'I know China suffered immense losses in that war,' he said. 'China's victory is also a victory for the Russian people.' Ilya added that he hopes to visit China to learn more about its history and contributions to the global fight against fascism. 'For common people, this is the way to remember their relatives, who managed to deal with the unbearable, for modern people, burden of war, millions of deaths, destruction of economy and crimes against humanity… For professionals, whether it will be scholars or politicians, this is a reminder of what humanity can do to harm itself without mutual trust, respect, dialogue and strong international institutions,' said Maksim Vilisov, Leading Research Fellow at the Institute of Scientific Information for Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He said that commemorating the end of WWII is absolutely crucial. 'Without that, the lessons of this catastrophe cannot be learned.' Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times that the leader's visit is a crucial step for China and Russia as well as other Global South countries to ensure global strategic balance, stability, and security through closer coordination and cooperation in a world marked by turbulence and complexity. 'History shows that hegemonism and power politics lead to conflicts and wars, causing immense trauma and tragedy for all humanity. To avoid such tragedies, a profound understanding and grasp of historical lessons is essential,' Li said. According to the expert, China's emphasis on history reflects not only a sense of shared responsibility for humanity but also a strong determination to safeguard its core national interests. This article first appeared in Global Times: View original content: SOURCE Global Times
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Global Times: Xi attends Russia's Victory Day celebrations in Red Square
BEIJING, May 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese President Xi Jinping attended on Friday celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War in Moscow. Leaders from more than 20 countries and international organizations were invited to the events, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Xi was welcomed by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Friday morning. The leaders then walked to the Red Square together and took their seats at the main reviewing stand, according to Xinhua. At 10:00 am local time, as the chimes of the Kremlin clock rang out, the celebrations began. As the military band played The Sacred War, the honor guards marched in. President Putin delivered a speech at the parade. According to a release from the Kremlin, Putin said that Russian people "remember the lessons of World War II (WWII) and will never agree with the distortion of those events or attempts to justify the murderers and slander the true victors." "We highly appreciate the contribution made to our common struggle by the Allied armies, members of the Resistance, the courageous people of China, and all those who fought for a peaceful future," said the Russian president. May 9 marks the day of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War. 80 years ago, the army and the people of the Soviet Union fought dauntlessly to drive the German fascists out of their homeland and went on with soldiers and civilians from other countries to conquer Berlin, gaining victory in the battlefield of the World Anti-fascist War in Europe. Aspiration for peace Following Putin's speech, the grand military parade began as the military band played the Russian national anthem and gun salutes echoed across the Red Square. Marching in unison, the formations passed through the square one after another, Xinhua reported. Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov reviewed the grand parade, which involved over 11,000 troops and 183 WWII and advanced weapons systems, according to Tass news agency. In the "historical" part of the parade, Russian service members, dressed in uniforms from the era of the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War, proudly carried the military flags and weapons of that time, evoking memories of the years of resistance against fascism, according to Xinhua. In the "modern" part, formations of Russia's various military branches and modern weaponry units passed by the reviewing stand. The Russian Aerospace Forces' flight formations roared overhead, soaring across the skies above the Red Square, according to the report. WWII T-34 tanks, a major symbol of the Victory, led the mechanized column during the military parade on Red Square, as per tradition, Tass reported. For the first time, a column of unmanned systems troops took part in the military parade on Moscow's Red Square, said Tass, noting that Russia's Missile Troops and Strategic Missile Force were represented at the military parade as well. Armed forces formations from more than 10 countries, including China, were also invited to participate in the parade, said Xinhua. The Global Times has learned that 119 service members from the PLA Guard of Honor participated in the military parade, of whom 102 appeared on Red Square. Their average height was 1.87 meters, and their average age was 20. In 2015, the PLA Guard of Honor participated for the first time in Russia's military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War. Analysts view the latest invitation as an important tribute to the China-Russia friendship forged in the anti-fascist war, a resolute defense of the just legacy of WWII, and a powerful reaffirmation of both countries' commitment to global peace. As troops of the PLA honor guard marched in gallant array with high morale as well as firm and forceful steps on Friday, President Xi stood up to greet them, China Central Television reported. "Participating in this celebration showcases the Chinese military's image and conveys our nation's aspiration for peace and commitment to safeguarding it," said Zhang Dingxin, Commander of the PLA Honor Guard. Ahead of the mission, the unit engaged in focused study sessions on World War II history, particularly the Soviet Union's role in the Great Patriotic War, to deepen their understanding of the event's significance. "We represent our country's image and fulfill the sacred mission of safeguarding peace. As our nation grows stronger, Chinese soldiers are ever more confident and capable of contributing to global peace and development," Wang Zihe, a member of the honor guard, told the Global Times. Take history as mirror Following the celebrations, Xi, along with other leaders, walked from the Red Square to Alexander Garden, where they laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and observed a moment of silence, per Xinhua. In a signed article published Wednesday by the Russian Gazette newspaper, Xi said the profound friendship forged with blood and lives in the World Anti-Fascist War has become an inexhaustible source of the everlasting amity between China and Russia. He said historical memory and truth will not fade with the passage of time. They serve as inspirations that mirror the present and illuminate the future. "We must draw wisdom and strength from the great victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, and resolutely resist all forms of hegemonism and power politics," reads Xi's signed article, per Xinhua. During his meeting with Putin on Thursday in Moscow, Xi said that history and reality have fully proved that continuing to develop and deepen China-Russia relations is integral to carrying forward the friendship between the two peoples from generation to generation, per Xinhua. As Moscow commemorated the victory in the Great Patriotic War, Global Times reporters observed enthusiastic crowds cheering and waving Russian and Soviet Victory Day flags. Among the spectators, the Nikolayevic family stood out. Komarov Ilya Nikolaevich, whose father fought in the 1945 liberation of Berlin, was joined by his wife, Maria and their 11-year-old daughter Sofia, both dressed in Soviet Red Army uniforms to honor the occasion. "Victory Day is a solemn and moving moment for me," Ilya told the Global Times. "Without that victory 80 years ago, we wouldn't be here today." This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Ilya expressed keen interest in China's commemorative events, viewing them as part of humanity's shared struggle for peace. "I know China suffered immense losses in that war," he said. "China's victory is also a victory for the Russian people." Ilya added that he hopes to visit China to learn more about its history and contributions to the global fight against fascism. "For common people, this is the way to remember their relatives, who managed to deal with the unbearable, for modern people, burden of war, millions of deaths, destruction of economy and crimes against humanity… For professionals, whether it will be scholars or politicians, this is a reminder of what humanity can do to harm itself without mutual trust, respect, dialogue and strong international institutions," said Maksim Vilisov, Leading Research Fellow at the Institute of Scientific Information for Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He said that commemorating the end of WWII is absolutely crucial. "Without that, the lessons of this catastrophe cannot be learned." Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times that the leader's visit is a crucial step for China and Russia as well as other Global South countries to ensure global strategic balance, stability, and security through closer coordination and cooperation in a world marked by turbulence and complexity. "History shows that hegemonism and power politics lead to conflicts and wars, causing immense trauma and tragedy for all humanity. To avoid such tragedies, a profound understanding and grasp of historical lessons is essential," Li said. According to the expert, China's emphasis on history reflects not only a sense of shared responsibility for humanity but also a strong determination to safeguard its core national interests. This article first appeared in Global Times: View original content: SOURCE Global Times Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Russia Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Vucic and Fico are heroes
The Kremlin has praised Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico for defying EU pressure and attending the Victory Day celebrations in the Russian capital on Friday. Despite warnings from Brussels, Vucic and Fico also held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in addition to attending the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory in World War II. Both leaders faced travel hurdles after several EU countries closed their airspace to their jets en route to Russia. Moscow condemned the moves as 'hostile.' 'These days… it is simply an act of heroism. Showing one's sovereign will to pay tribute to the memory of Victory Day, despite the blatant, frenzied pressure, is worthy of the highest praise,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. Last month, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned leaders from member and candidate countries against traveling to Moscow to commemorations of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. She suggested that they visit Kiev instead. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos reportedly also told Vucic in April that his presence in Moscow would be held against Serbia's EU bid. Latvia and Lithuania denied their airspace to the plane of the Serbian president, forcing it to fly through Bulgaria, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Georgia in order to make it to Moscow on Wednesday. Vucic came to Russia despite a recent health scare that forced him to cut short a trip to the US and cancel a meeting with President Donald Trump in Florida. Estonia closed its airspace to Fico's plane on Wednesday. The Baltic state's foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, claimed that 'Russia is a country that launched and continues a war in Europe' and 'participation in propaganda events organized by them should be ruled out' for EU representatives. Putin earlier praised those who accepted the invitation, calling them courageous for attending despite pressure from Brussels. The celebrations in Moscow were attended by heads of state and top officials from 30 countries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
CTV News
09-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Russia holds Victory Day parade marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany
Russian servicemen take part in the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during the World War II. (Maxim Bogovid/Photo host agency RIA Novosti via AP)
Arab News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Putin gears up to host world leaders at lavish army parade
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin will host a lavish World War II Victory Day parade in Moscow on Friday, an event the Kremlin hopes will rally patriotism at home and project strength abroad as its troops fight in Ukraine. More than 20 foreign dignitaries, including China's Xi Jinping and Slovakia's Robert Fico, are scheduled to attend the annual parade this year, the fourth since Moscow launched a full-scale military assault on its neighbor in 2022. Officials promise that commemorations this year — the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany — will be the 'biggest' ever, with Putin ordering a 'humanitarian' truce with Ukraine over the holiday. Ukraine, which has dismissed the truce as a farce, has called the events in Russia a 'parade of cynicism' and warned that it cannot guarantee the safety of world leaders attending. The festival will be marked with a massive parade of military equipment and soldiers through Red Square, culminating in an address by Putin. Since sending troops into Ukraine, Putin has frequently drawn parallels between Russia's modern-day army and the Soviet soldiers who fought Nazi Germany. At a dinner in honor of visiting foreign leaders, Putin proposed a toast to 'victory.' Russia began its assault on Ukraine in February 2022, hoping to take the country in days, but has since become embroiled in a huge, bloody conflict that has killed tens of thousands. Security has been tight in Moscow, where organizers have banned attendees from bringing vape pens, electric scooters or 'any animals' to the Victory Parade. Authorities have also jammed mobile Internet connections in the capital, citing the threat of Ukrainian attacks. Putin unilaterally ordered a three-day truce for the duration of the holiday, starting Thursday, but Ukraine has accused Russia of breaking it hundreds of times. Ukrainian authorities reported strikes in the southern city of Kherson and the central Dnipropetrovsk region overnight, with two people wounded. Kyiv argues the parade has 'nothing to do with the victory over Nazism' and that those marching on Red Square were 'quite likely' implicit in crimes against Ukrainians. The two most important guests this year are China's Xi Jinping and Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Despite warnings from Brussels, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will also attend — the only leader from the European Union taking part. Aleksandar Vucic, president of Serbia, a country with historically strong ties to Moscow, will also join. The day before the parade, Xi and Putin met in the Kremlin, where the two held talks for more than three hours. After their meeting, Putin addressed the Chinese leader as his 'dear friend,' while the two issued messages of defiance toward the West. World War II is officially remembered in Russia as the 'Great Patriotic War,' beginning with Germany's surprise invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 and ending with Germany's capitulation in 1945. The period between 1939 and 1941, when the Soviet Union had a non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany, is glossed over in official history books. The war had a devastating impact on the Soviet Union, resulting in more than 20 million civilian and military deaths. Throughout his quarter-century in power, Putin has tapped into this national trauma, making May 9 Russia's most important public holiday and championing his army as defenders against fascism. Authorities banned criticism of the military weeks after the Ukraine offensive began, and have since charged thousands in the biggest domestic crackdown in Russia's post-Soviet history. School textbooks introduced since the offensive refer to Ukraine as an 'ultra-nationalist state,' likening it to the Nazi occupation government that ruled the country between 1941 and 1944. President Volodymyr Zelensky has called Putin's claims that Russia needs to 'de-Nazify' Ukraine 'incomprehensible.' In a symbolic show of support for Kyiv to coincide with the parade, Ukraine's Western backers are expected on Friday to sign off on the creation of a special tribunal to try Russia's top leadership over its military offensive at a meeting in Lviv. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also announced new sanctions targeting Russia's so-called shadow fleet ahead of a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) in Norway on Friday, with support for Ukraine set to be on the agenda.
