Russia: foreign leaders expected for the 9-May parade in Moscow

More than twenty foreign leaders must attend the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany, crowned on Friday by a large military parade in Red Square.

This diplomatic ballet takes place despite Western attempts to isolate Vladimir Putin and the warnings of Ukraine, who said he saw any foreign participation as “support for the aggressive state”, and has multiplied drone attacks, including on Moscow.

Moscow partners

The main guest major to these commemorations is the Chinese president Xi Jinpingarrived in Moscow on Wednesday. He was warmly received at the Kremlin by Vladimir Putin for a meeting at the end of which the two leaders adopted a joint declaration criticizing the Westerners.

Another important participant who arrived on Wednesday, the Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silvawhose country aims to play a mediator role in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Traditional partners of Russia in the world, the leaders of Vietnam, Mongolia, Egypt and Burma also participate. The president of Laos, initially planned, canceled his arrival after having contracted the coronavirus, according to the Kremlin.

Among Africans, the leaders of Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Congo, Ethiopia and Equatorial Guinea made the trip.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was originally expected in Moscow, but was not ultimately present due to the current escalation with Pakistan, according to the media.

Traditional allies

Like almost every year, the traditional Moscow allies are present: Kazakh Kassym-jomart tokaiv and the Belarusian Alexandre Loukachenko.

The Armenian Prime Minister also Nikol Pachinianwhile the president of the rival country, Azerbaijani Ilham Alievwithdrew to take part in events in Baku in memory of his father, the former leader Heidar Aliev, according to the Kremlin.

In addition to Kazakhstan, the leaders of the other four former Soviet republics in Central Asia are on site: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.

This is also the case of two Moscow allies in Latin America: the Venezuelan Nicolás Maduro and the Cuban Miguel Diaz-Canelwith which Vladimir Putin had discussions.

Europeans

Despite Brussels warnings, Slovak Prime Minister Robert I am will be held alongside Vladimir Putin. Robert Fico, who had already gone to Moscow in December 2024, was repeatedly accused by his detractors of pursuing a policy of appeasement towards Vladimir Putin, while threading kyiv. A meeting between the two men is planned.

The Serbian President Aleksandar Vucicwhose country has historically strong links with Russia, also made the trip and arrived on Wednesday, despite its brief hospitalization in early May.

Is also present the president of the Bosnian Serbs Milorad Dodikwhich is sought after by Bosnian justice.

Soldiers and separatists

The leaders of two pre -russian separatist territories of Georgia not recognized by the international community are also in Moscow for May 9: Abkhazia and Southern Ossetie.

The President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas is also there and will have an interview with Vladimir Putin.

The secretaries general of the organization of Islamic cooperation, the Shanghai cooperation organization and the organization of the collective security treaty also participate in the ceremony.

Apart from the leaders, soldiers from 13 countries take part in the Grande Parade in the Red Square, including those of China, Vietnam, Burma and Egypt.

According to the Kremlin, the defense ministers of several countries are also present, as well as the North Korean ambassador and “veterans of Israel and the United States”.

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