Putin hails troops fighting in Ukraine in front of key allies

He evokes Soviet efforts in WWII again for the military campaign against his neighbour

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MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed Moscow will be victorious in Ukraine as the Soviet Union was in World War II (WWII), rallying Russians to support troops at Moscow's grand Red Square military parade in front of his key allies on May 9.

Mr Putin sat with China's President Xi Jinping watching thousands of troops - some of whom fought in Ukraine - and an array of weapons, including new tanks and drones, pass by the Kremlin to mark the defeat of the Nazis.

Since launching the Ukraine offensive in 2022, Mr Putin has evoked the Soviet war effort for his military campaign. Moscow's troops occupy a fifth of Ukraine and the three-year offensive has killed thousands of people.

While Mr Putin, Mr Xi and some 20 other leaders were on Red Square, European Union ministers were in Ukraine's Lviv to endorse the creation of a special tribunal to try Russia's top leadership.

Addressing the parade in Moscow, Mr Putin said: "The whole country, society and people support the participants of the special military operation.

"We are proud of their bravery and determination, of the fortitude that has always brought us only victory."

Russia has banned criticism of its offensive and hundreds of thousands of Russians have fled their country since.

Around 1,500 troops who fought in Ukraine were among 11,000 marching on Red Square, the state media reported.