He hugged a North Korean general. He squired China’s leader around with special care. He spoke of the sacrifices of soldiers. And he paraded Russian-made drones for the first time across Red Square.
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia drew attention to the very factors that have enabled him to wage war against Ukraine into a fourth year, as he presided over festivities on Friday in Moscow to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Soviet victory over the Nazis during World War II.
Mr. Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 initially proved catastrophic for Russian forces, but he has since turned around the situation on the battlefield. Among his helpers: North Korean soldiers and ammunition, Chinese oil purchases and technology, Russian soldiers shouldering immense losses and seemingly unending swarms of Russian drones.
All were represented on Red Square in some way, as the Russian leader underscored to the world, through a Soviet-style display of pageantry and militarism, that he does not need to stand down in Ukraine.
“Truth and justice are on our side,” Mr. Putin told the more than 11,500 military personnel that the Kremlin said had gathered for the parade, including over 1,500 involved in Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
“The whole country, society and people support the participants of the special military operation,” Mr. Putin added, using the Kremlin’s chosen euphemism for the war.
