TODAY Putin hosts world leaders for a massive victory parade in Moscow to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis.
Guests of honour include China’s President Xi Jinping at what Russia has promised will be the “biggest ever” show of pomp and military might.
Hundreds of soldiers line up in formation as the parade kicks off
Putin and Xi Jinping
Russia’s full military might is on display
The main event will be a huge military parade in Red Square, right next to the Kremlin.
The event – celebrating the defeat of Nazism in WW2 – is a key part of Russia’s national identity.
The arrival of so many heads of state, including the leaders of Brazil, Egypt and Vietnam – is a major PR coup for Moscow, and a chance to show the West that its efforts to isolate Russia have failed.
A three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine began on Wednesday.
As the parade kicked off this morning, a string of foreign leaders were seen arriving at the Kremlin.
President Vladimir Putin was seen greeting Xi and some of the other two dozen foreign leaders.
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The parade is underway Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
