Putin hosts world leaders for Victory Day as Ukraine accuses Russia of breaking ceasefire
Russian President Vladimir Putin is welcoming world leaders to Moscow for its annual Victory Day parade, celebrating the 80th anniversary of Russia's defeat of the Nazis.
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Putin has greeted 20 heads of state at Russia's annual military parade, including leaders from China, Brazil, Egypt and Vietnam among others.
The Russian leader used a speech today speech to tie the Second World War to his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, saying Russia was behind what he termed the "special military operation".
A one-minute silence followed his address after Oleg Salyukov, the commander of ground troops, led 11,000 soldiers into Moscow's Red Square.
A pause in the fighting was supposed to coincide with a parade in Moscow celebrating the 80th anniversary of Russia's victory over the Nazis.
But Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has labelled the ceasefire proposal as a no more than a PR "game" to protect the parade, with claims Russia breached it just hours in by launching at least three strikes in a matter of hours.
Putin's troops have also attacked in the east waging military assaults in several areas after midnight despite the ceasefire coming into effect overnight, Ukraine's military has said.
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Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters Moscow expects up to "29 leaders of the countries we have invited to be present at the Victory Parade."
On Wednesday, the Kremlin said it was taking “all necessary measures” to keep foreign leaders attending safe, including "guest of honour" Chinese President Xi Jinping, after days of Ukrainian drone attacks closed airports across Russia.
Last year, just nine world leaders attended Moscow's annual Victory Day parade - which came as much of the West shunned Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Ushakov hailed this year's event as "an indicator of Russia's growing authority in the world".
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters Moscow expects up to "29 leaders of the countries we have invited to be present at the Victory Parade."
On Wednesday, the Kremlin said it was taking “all necessary measures” to keep foreign leaders attending safe, including "guest of honour" Chinese President Xi Jinping, after days of Ukrainian drone attacks closed airports across Russia.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters Moscow expects up to "29 leaders of the countries we have invited to be present at the Victory Parade."
On Wednesday, the Kremlin said it was taking “all necessary measures” to keep foreign leaders attending safe, including "guest of honour" Chinese President Xi Jinping, after days of Ukrainian drone attacks closed airports across Russia.
Britain is also holding its own celebrations to marks 80 years since the formal surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of the war in Europe, although the war against Japan would continue until August 15 1945.
Celebrations have been ongoing since Monday, when Ukrainian troops joined British soldiers in a parade through central London.
Speaking to the We Have Ways Of Making You Talk podcast in 10 Downing Street, Sir Keir Starmer said the day was “a hugely important part of our history, of which we should be extremely proud as a country”.
He said: “I’ve got children who live in peace and in a democracy as a result of other people, which is incredible.
“And then, you know, the reminder with the Ukrainian contingent in the procession, that the idea that this was all just history and it doesn’t matter now somehow is completely wrong.“
Those values of freedom and democracy matter today.”Adding that he felt a “personal responsibility” for maintaining the peace that Europe has largely enjoyed since 1945, he said he was determined to ensure the Nato alliance – “the cornerstone of that peace” – continued “for decades to come”.