Image Credits: Image Title: Putin Says Russian Forces Are Facing ‘Aggressive Force’ Backed by NATO. Source: (chatgpt.com) Date: May 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (chatgpt.com) by Open Chronicle and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle with agencies
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that Russian troops are confronting what he described as an “aggressive force” armed and supported by the entirety of NATO, during Moscow’s annual Victory Day military parade on Red Square.
Speaking before military personnel, foreign dignitaries, and thousands of spectators, Putin linked Russia’s current military operations to the legacy of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany during World War II.
“The generation of victors inspires the soldiers who carry out special military operation tasks today,” Putin declared during his address.
Moscow Marks Victory Day With Large Military Parade
The annual Victory Day celebrations commemorate the Soviet victory in World War II, known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War.
Putin said the Soviet people made a decisive contribution to defeating Nazism and saving both their homeland and the wider world.
The parade featured personnel involved in Russia’s ongoing military campaign in Ukraine, along with cadets from military academies, members of multiple branches of the Russian Armed Forces, and servicemen from the North Korean military.
Russian military equipment, missile systems, and ceremonial units marched through Red Square as aircraft flew overhead during the commemorations.
Foreign Leaders Attend Ceremony
Several international leaders attended the parade alongside Putin, including:
• Alexander Lukashenko
• Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
• Shavkat Mirziyoyev
• Thongloun Sisoulith
• Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar
The presence of foreign delegations highlighted Moscow’s efforts to demonstrate continued international partnerships despite Western sanctions and diplomatic isolation attempts.
Ceasefire Tensions Continue
Ahead of the celebrations, Russia’s Defense Ministry proposed a temporary two-day ceasefire for May 8–9 and warned Ukraine of a “massive” missile response if the Victory Day events were targeted.
Ukraine later announced its own unilateral ceasefire beginning at midnight Tuesday.
Despite the announcements, both sides subsequently accused each other of violating the truce.
The situation remains highly fragile as fighting continues across multiple areas of the conflict zone.
Trump Announces Prisoner Exchange
On Friday, Donald Trump stated that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a temporary ceasefire alongside a major prisoner exchange involving 1,000 detainees from each side.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump praised both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for supporting the agreement.
“Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard-fought war,” Trump wrote, adding that negotiations aimed at ending the conflict were continuing.
The war in Ukraine remains the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II and continues reshaping global security, diplomacy, and energy markets.