Today, the Kremlin announced that 29 foreign leaders, including Xi Jinping of China and Luis Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, are set to arrive in Moscow on Friday for the celebrations commemorating the victory over Nazi Germany. During the event, Chinese soldiers alongside troops from 12 other nations will participate in the march.
“We anticipate the attendance of 29 foreign leaders at the Victory Day parade,” stated Yuri Ushakov, diplomatic advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a press briefing.
He added that military units from 13 countries, including China, will be marching as well. Ukraine has remarked that it views any foreign participation in the parade as support for the aggressor state.
According to Ushakov, American World War II veterans are expected to join the festivities, though it’s unclear if U.S. officials will attend; however, the Kremlin has invited the U.S. ambassador to Russia.
The celebrations are scheduled from May 8 to 11, with the traditional military parade occurring on May 9 in Red Square, the center of the Russian capital.
Ushakov also mentioned that troops from North Korea will not participate in the parade, despite Pyongyang‘s earlier confirmation of their involvement in the conflict against Ukraine, with North Korea’s ambassador representing the nation instead.
President Putin declared a three-day truce starting April 28 to honor the 80th anniversary of the victory achieved by the Soviet Union and its allies over Nazi Germany in World War II.
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