Putin stages Victory Day parade in show of strength

Dozens of foreign leaders attend Moscow war memorial

- ALEXANDER BUTLER

Vladimir Putin presided over a massive show of tanks, missiles and troops in Moscow yesterday in a "belligerent" show of force alongside Chinese president Xi Jinping to bolster Russia's global image as the Ukraine war grinds on.

Putin was joined by dozens of foreign leaders, who witnessed more than 11,000 troops on display in Red Square, in Russia’s Second World War Victory Day parade that involved soldiers from 13 other countries, and included 200 tanks among the presentation of presentation of military power.

As a reminder of Russia’s nuclear threat, huge Yars nucleartipped intercontinental ballistic missiles launchers rolled across Red Square, while Iranian-made drones used to attack Ukraine were carried on trucks in a nod to the conflict.

“The Soviet troops, who held their ground to the death on key front lines, determined the outcome of the entire Second World War through their victories in the largest battles,” Putin said.

It was an apparent rebuff against US president Donald Trump, who this week said “nobody came close” to America in “terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance” during the conflict.