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.
Xi Jinping and Lula present
The main major guest to these commemorations is Chinese president Xi Jinping, who arrived in Moscow on Wednesday. He was warmly received at the Kremlin by President Putin for a meeting at the end of which the two leaders adopted a joint declaration criticizing the West. Another important participant who arrived on Wednesday, the Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, whose country aims to play a role of mediator in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Narendra modified absent due to clashes with Pakistan
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.
Like almost every year, the traditional Moscow allies are present: the Kazakh Kassym-Jomart Tokaïev and the Belarusian Alexandre Loukachenko. Also Figures Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pachinian, while the president of the rival country, Azerbaijanis Ilham Aliev, withdrew to take part in events in Baku in memory of his father, the former leader Heïdar 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: Venezuelan Nicolas Maduro and Cuban Miguel Diaz-Canel, with which Putin had discussions.
-Slovakia presents despite Brussels’s disapproval
Despite Brussels’ warnings, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will be held alongside Vladimir Putin, and will be caught with him. He who had already gone to Moscow in December 2024 was accused on several occasions by his detractors of pursuing a policy of appeasement towards Putin, while hearing kyiv. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, whose country has historically strong links with Russia, also made the trip and arrived on Wednesday, despite its brief hospitalization in early May. The president of the Serbs of Bosnia Milorad Dodik is also present, who is sought by Bosnian justice.
An interview planned with the president of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas
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 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”.
