And what a day it has been!

In an extravaganza reminiscent of the displays of power favored by the leaders of the Soviet Union, Russia hauled out its finest military armaments, including Yars missile systems, tanks, armored personnel carriers, and — for the first time — a column of trucks carrying combat drones. And after an absence of two years, there was a traditional fly-by of military aircraft over Red Square.

Despite heavy security prompted by fears of possible attack by Ukrainian drones, and travel difficulties caused by the refusal of neighboring Baltic states Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia to permit travel of arriving foreign dignitaries over their air space, an estimated 27 world leaders friendly to Vladimir Putin were in attendance.

First among equals was, of course, China’s Xi Jinping, who sat beside Putin on the reviewing stand and wore a symbolic Russian orange-and-black St. George ribbon. Xi had brought with him more than 100 Chinese soldiers, who marched in the parade on Red Square . . . a sign of the burgeoning partnership between the two countries.

There were also military contingents from North Korea, Vietnam and Mongolia . . . though the North Koreans did not march in the parade, despite having sent thousands of troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. Perhaps their presence would have been too great a reminder of the “special military operation” still taking place in Ukraine — reference to which was expressly forbidden during the ceremonies.

There was, however, a post-parade hug between Putin and a North Korean officer representing his government in the absence of Kim Jong Un . . . who was said to have symbolically participated by visiting the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang.

Not unexpectedly, other leaders who accepted Putin’s invitation to the party included Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil; Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro; Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi; and Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority. One surprise guest was Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, whose country has applied for EU membership and who, by attending the festivities in Moscow, placed his nation at risk of forfeiting that membership.

Also risking censure was Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia — the only EU member in attendance, who has made no secret of his friendship with Putin.

The main event in Red Square began with the arrival of 11,000 troops, led by their commander, Oleg Salyukov, and an inspection by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. Putin’s address followed, in which he said that Russia “was and will be an indestructible barrier against Nazism, Russophobia, antisemitism. Truth and justice are on our side . . . the entire country, society and people support the participants” [of the war in Ukraine]. [Jessica Rawnsley and Paul Kirby, BBC News, May 9, 2025.]

How interesting that Putin should have made that rather oblique reference to the war — something that he had declared verboten for others. But, being able to pick and choose what to promote as “facts” is one of the privileges of rank.

For example, he claims that Ukraine is now controlled by neo-Nazis who allegedly ousted a Russian-friendly president 11 years ago and now persecute Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine. [Mike Eckel, RFE/RL, May 9, 2025.]

He also accuses the United States and NATO of aggression for having admitted former Warsaw Pact members such as Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. In his comments today, he countered Donald Trump’s remarks of two days ago that “victory was mostly accomplished because of [the United States], like it or not. We came into that war. We won that war.” [Id.]

In rebuttal, Putin said: “We [Russians] remember the lessons of World War II, and we will never agree with distortion of its events, with attempts to justify the executioners and slander the real winner. Truth and justice [are] on our side. The entire country, all of society, the people support the participants of the special military operation.” [Id.]

*. *. *

It never stops, does it? They’re like a couple of kids running a race, each declaring he crossed the finish line first, neither one willing to accept the fact that they both ran a damned good race.

The truth of the matter is, World War II was won by the Allied forces — all of them. Without the U.S. joining the fray in 1941, the fate of Europe might have taken a completely different turn. And without the Soviet Union opening up the Eastern front, the ending might also have been quite different. We all worked together then, against a common enemy . . . and the good guys won.

And then it all went to hell in something called the Cold War.

We never learn, do we?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/9/25