As Moscow 🇷🇺 prepares for the grand Victory Day parade on Red Square 🟥, world leaders are starting to arrive, many defying political pressure and global tensions to attend this iconic event 🎖️. Despite the odds — sanctions, conflicts, and diplomatic strain — nations are showing up to mark the anniversary of triumph over fascism in World War II 🌍✊. This special preview captures the atmosphere, the high-level arrivals, and the global significance of Victory Day 2025. Don’t miss this historic moment of unity, remembrance, and resilience. 🕊️🔥
#VictoryDay
#Russia
#MoscowParade
#RedSquare
#WorldWar2
#WW2Anniversary
#GlobalLeaders
#Putin
#Geopolitics
#InternationalRelations
#Diplomacy
#Parade2025
#RussiaNews
#VictoryDay2025
#Unity
#Remembrance
#AntiFascism
#HistoricEvent
#GlobalPolitics
#PeaceAndSecurity
#VictoryDay
#Russia
#MoscowParade
#RedSquare
#WorldWar2
#WW2Anniversary
#GlobalLeaders
#Putin
#Geopolitics
#InternationalRelations
#Diplomacy
#Parade2025
#RussiaNews
#VictoryDay2025
#Unity
#Remembrance
#AntiFascism
#HistoricEvent
#GlobalPolitics
#PeaceAndSecurity
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Well, against considerable odds, Serbia's leader has made it to Russia, one day before the Victory Day celebrations.
00:07And that's despite the EU threatening him and the Baltic states even blocking his jet mid-flight when they closed their airspace as he tried to make his way to Moscow.
00:18Alexander Vucic has since recorded the message from the Red Square.
00:24I haven't been to Moscow in a long time, over four years.
00:27Today, my journey felt longer than the combined travels of Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin to Yalta.
00:34I take pride in Serbia's ability to make its own decisions independently.
00:39I'm proud of the anti-fascist struggle of the Serbian people and citizens, and we must never forget that or allow history to be revised.
00:46Here in Moscow, just as everywhere in the world, I will continue to fight for our Serbians.
00:51Another foreign dignitary being hampered by the EU from joining the commemoration event in Moscow is Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fitzo.
01:01Estonia has banned his plane from its airspace.
01:04Estonia told us that they would not allow us to fly over their territory, despite the fact that the Slovak Republic has year-round permission to use Estonian airspace for our government squadron.
01:17Of course, this is a deliberate attempt to disrupt my visit to Moscow.
01:21Do you see what international politics is like?
01:22The Russian foreign minister has weighed in on the behaviour of the EU countries, condemning it as shameful.
01:32When countries that have proudly called themselves European for all these years close their airspace to the leaders of European nations flying to Moscow, what can these be called?
01:42What does it signify?
01:43Well, you know, I do try to adhere to the rules of television and censorship, so I won't express what I really think about it.
01:51But, of course, it is a disgrace.
01:54And the fact that either Ursula von der Leyen or someone else was hysterically declaring that we need to urgently start the process of Ukraine's accession to the European Union this year,
02:04while at the same time demanding that Serbia join anti-Russian sanctions and agree to the loss of Kosovo, says a lot.
02:10It seems that those who preach Nazi values, like Zelensky and his team, are welcomed in the EU.
02:16Meanwhile, those who stand with Russia to defend our historical shared memory are being stripped of all rights.
02:22It's shameful. Shameful.
02:25A very strange behaviour of a bureaucracy that has not the slightest idea about politics can be promised by and large, I might say.
02:34What is happening today in terms of threat against the Prime Minister of Slovakia, against the Prime Minister of Serbia, there will be consequences.
02:46You know, it's the behaviour like of a gouvernant talking to small children.
02:50It's not the behaviour of an apparatus that should be at the service of the member states or of other countries like Serbia, which is not a member.
03:00And it's a hybris, the way they behave.
03:05We are not anymore in times of rationality in Europe.
03:07And this I had to observe myself throughout the last few years.
03:12So it's emotional.
03:15It's activist.
03:16I cannot even tell you what drives them, what motivates them, apart from hatred of Russia.
03:23But it's irrational.
03:26Well, despite the EU's efforts to rain on Moscow's parade, it won't dampen the spirits of almost all Russians, such as the sanctity that the day is held in.
03:38RT's Anastasia Valodina explains.
03:41In Russia, May 9th is more than a date.
03:45It's the heartbeat of remembrance.
03:47A solemn tribute to all the souls who resisted fascism, with 27 million never to return.
03:55On this day, every family pauses to honour fathers and mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers, brothers and sisters who bore the weight of the war so that future generations could live in peace.
04:09It's a day filled with pride, with memory, with unshakable resilience and a remarkable day worth sharing with the entire world as it holds a profound meaning for all.
04:21But not everyone cherishes the same truths.
04:25What was also discussed and very clearly said by different member states is that any participation in the 9th of May parades or celebrations in Moscow
04:43will be not taken lightly on the European side, considering that Russia is really waging a full-scale war in Europe.
04:54This year marks the 80th anniversary of the great victory.
04:59A triumph edged in history but scarred by the lives lost.
05:03But we remember, and we will always remember.
05:07And we're not alone in this.
05:09Amid threats and criticism, some still stand strong and prioritise honouring those who stood against fascism.
05:16And we're not alone in this.
05:17We're not alone in this.
05:18We're not alone in this.
05:19We're not alone in this.
05:20We're not alone in this.
05:21We're not alone in this.
05:22We're not alone in this.
05:23We're not alone in this.
05:24We're not alone in this.
05:25We're not alone in this.
05:26We're not alone in this.
05:27We're not alone in this.
05:28We're not alone in this.
05:29We're not alone in this.
05:30We're not alone in this.
05:31We're not alone in this.
05:32We're not alone in this.
05:33We're not alone in this.
05:34We're not alone in this.
05:35We're not alone in this.
05:36We're not alone in this.
05:37We're not alone in this.
05:38We're not alone in this.
05:39We're not alone in this.
05:40Leaders and top officials from around the globe, China, India, Slovakia, Serbia, Brazil,
05:57Palestine, Myanmar and a number of Latin American countries are in Moscow for the celebration,
06:03with some openly underlining the importance of this historic day.
06:09It seems to me that they will not stop putting pressure on me not to go to Moscow.
06:14But I did not mislead anyone.
06:16I publicly announced my intention to visit Moscow eight months ago.
06:20We are proud of our anti-fascist heritage.
06:23And this is one of the reasons why I accepted this invitation.
06:27I will go to Moscow on May 9th to pay my respects to the people who died during the liberation
06:34of Slovakia and Czechoslovakia.
06:37I will go to show respect and reverence for the millions of civilian victims, to show
06:41respect for the fact that simply, whether we want to acknowledge it or not historically,
06:47the greatest contribution to the defeat of Hitler's Germany, fascism and Nazism was made
06:53by the people of the former Soviet Union.
06:55This year will be the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II.
07:02Back then, China and Russia fought valiantly in the main theatres of Asia and Europe, respectively.
07:09The two sides will take the opportunity of joint commemoration in this important historical
07:14milestone to advocate for the correct historical view of World War II and defend its victorious
07:20outcomes.
07:21Vladimir Putin acknowledged the bravery of those who, despite threats and criticism, gathered
07:27to commemorate this special day.
07:32Those who are going to come to Russia have much more courage than those who are hiding behind
07:36someone's back and trying to make threats against those who are going to celebrate the historical
07:42achievements of people who gave their lives in the fight against Nazism.
07:46So, while some downplay this great victory, others, undeterred by pressure, remain steadfast
07:54in honouring the memory of those who fought against the Nazi Germany.
07:58And it brings to mind a Russian phrase I'd like to share with you – «Nikto ne zabut,
08:03nishto ne zabuta».
08:05No one and nothing is forgotten.
08:07Because after all, our today is a gift from those brave souls who defied fascism by giving
08:15up there tomorrow.
08:17Well, as you have just seen earlier, the Chinese president is now in Moscow for the Victory
08:22Day Parade.
08:24He has a packed agenda before the celebrations on Friday.
08:28He'll sit down for talks with Vladimir Putin later today, which we'll be closely covering.
08:33He says that Beijing and Moscow will not stand idly by, while others try to rewrite the history
08:40of the Second World War.
08:43Any attempt to distort the historical truth of World War II, deny the victory of World
08:47War II, and discredit the historical achievements of China and the Soviet Union will not succeed.
08:53For any attempt to reverse history, not only will the Chinese and Russian people not agree,
08:57but the people of all countries in the world will not agree.
09:01We must resolutely safeguard the post-war international order.
09:04The more turbulent and intertwined the international situation is, the more we must hold and safeguard
09:09the authority of the United Nations, firmly safeguard the international system with the United
09:13Nations at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms
09:18of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and continue
09:23to promote an equal and orderly world with multipolarity and inclusive economic globalization.
09:30On one hand, we do know why they are doing that.
09:34Because of, you know, the conflict over Ukraine, the Europeans are not happy with that.
09:39And, you know, just a few weeks back, before this commemoration, the EU chief foreign affairs,
09:47Kayakalas, has threatened, you know, European countries not to participate in the commemoration,
09:52otherwise you will be punished.
09:54It's interesting to somehow they are trying to remove that kind of memory.
09:59The sacrifices, the contribution by Russia in the European theater for the victory of the
10:05Second World War.
10:07And that's very irresponsible, to say the least.
10:11And also, I mean, to the attempt to rewrite history is dangerous because, you know, we cannot,
10:19everybody understand that we cannot forget history.
10:21Otherwise history will repeat itself.
10:23I mean, World War Two is devastating enough for us to, to keep the memory accurate, as accurate
10:30as possible, to keep it alive.
10:32So we are not and never repeated that kind of devastation, that kind of, you know, horrendous
10:39crimes committed by the Nazis.
10:41So, in that sense, I mean, President Xi Jinping is here.
10:45The Chinese side obviously understands, you know, the feeding of the Russian side, for example,
10:51of the people of the former Soviet Union.
10:53I mean, how, I mean, that kind of unfairness in terms of, you know, history, in terms of their
11:01contribution, their sacrifice, somehow being belittled or being, trying to remove from history,
11:08from their memory.
11:09It's not acceptable.
11:13Well, Nazi Germany would have dominated Africa if the Eastern Front in the World War Two had
11:19never been opened.
11:21And that's according to Professor Patrick Lumumba in the latest episode of his show Lumumba's
11:26Africa, which is dedicated to the Second World War.
11:30Now, the professor says that the contribution of the Red Army to the eventual victory over
11:35Hitler's forces is monumental.
11:38You can watch the full episode throughout the day right here on RT International.
11:41The fact that the Soviet Union became a theater of war was salvation for the continent of Africa
11:51to the extent that all resources were focused on the Soviet Union. And this is why when you
11:59read history, when one reads history, the sacrifices of the Red Army were monumental in the millions.
12:09The sacrifices that were made in terms of the destruction of different cities in that part of the world.
12:18In fact, when the war was continuing apace in the Soviet Union was almost decimated with the sixth army or sixth brigade of the Nazi army almost reaching Moscow.
12:34And historians now say that the Russians have two natural allies, General January and General February.
12:42The weather contributed in a major way and the Germans lost in a major way, leading to the loss on the Eastern Front.
12:53And ultimately, we saw that the Red Army did occupy the entire Eastern Europe and did, of course, capture Berlin, leading to the unconditional surrender of the Germans on the victory day on the ninth day of May 1945.
13:18Now, with less than 24 hours until the victory day, stay tuned for our special coverage of the echoes of the Second World War here on RT, as we'll be looking back at the honor and sacrifices that have been passed down through the generations.
13:48And now over to Ukraine, where the country's parliament is expected to convene later today to vote on the crucial natural resources deal with Washington.
14:11It's the result of two months of a time's painful negotiations.
14:16However, the final version of the agreement fails to provide conditions previously seen as vital for Kiev, while Ukrainian lawmakers themselves wouldn't even get to see all documents on the matter.
14:29RT's Ilya Petrenko breaks down the story.
14:31Last week, we thought the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal was finally done and dusted after months of uncertainty and back and forth negotiations.
14:43It covers 57 commodities, including rare earth metals, to be extracted jointly.
14:49It sets up the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, equally split between the two countries to attract global investment for rebuilding Ukraine.
14:59But it still needs to be ratified by the Ukrainian parliament.
15:05Well, there shouldn't be any problem with that if the agreement is as good and as fair as the prime minister proudly described it.
15:14This is really a strategic agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine to create a partnership investment fund,
15:22an equitable, good international agreement to jointly invest in Ukraine's development and reconstruction.
15:27The mineral agreement with the U.S. will be absolutely a partnership.
15:31The investment fund will have a 50-50 share of management and funding.
15:35Contributions will be made in cash, and the U.S. side will be able to credit new military aid as income to the fund.
15:42Accordingly, under the agreement, Ukraine retains control over all resources, minerals and infrastructure,
15:48and makes only a contribution from new mineral licenses.
15:51Sounds and looks great at first glance.
15:55But the closer we get to the vote in the radar, the more dodgy the steps taken by the Ukrainian government begin to seem.
16:03It turns out the Ukrainian MPs have only been shown one document out of three that have supposedly been signed in Washington.
16:11One out of three.
16:13And the lawmakers are scratching their heads, calling the only part they saw too abstract and absolutely not enough
16:22to give the full picture of how the deal is supposed to function.
16:27I ask the prime minister directly, do these two documents, the core agreement and the statute, need to be ratified?
16:35The answer is no.
16:36Will we, the people's deputies, receive the texts of these agreements?
16:40The answer is no.
16:42MPs will vote for what they have not seen.
16:45We've heard so many times that perhaps the number one priority for Kiev in doing business with the Americans over minerals
16:54is getting security guarantees from Washington.
16:57And so the MPs were baffled to find out that there were none in the papers that they saw.
17:04It's a lifetime agreement.
17:06There is no time limit.
17:08In theory, only after 10 years will the parties be able to change it.
17:12And we asked if we understood correctly that there are no security guarantees in the agreement.
17:18The prime minister, Denis Shmigao, answered honestly that there are no guarantees.
17:23Well, at least he has been frank in that conversation,
17:27but decided not to mention the absence of security guarantees when he was touting the deal on camera.
17:33Speaking of the document that's been made public, even in there, some Ukrainian journalists have found signs
17:40Kiev's being made the slave in this partnership.
17:45And it probably goes without saying that in the secret parts, things could only get worse.
17:51The text clearly shows who's got the straight flush.
17:55The United States expects.
17:58Ukraine must.
17:59The U.S. Treasury Department may.
18:02The government of Ukraine commits.
18:04The U.S. government confirms.
18:06The government of Ukraine should.
18:08The wording of the fifth paragraph of the agreement finally brings it down to earth.
18:13If, after entry into force, the government of the United States of America provides the government of Ukraine with new military assistance in any form.
18:22And if it doesn't?
18:24Of course, there are no ifs regarding our obligations to fill the fund.
18:27So it appears there are plenty of good reasons for Mr. Trump and his team to be happy that the minerals deal has finally moved forward.
18:36So I went to them and said, look, we got to get rare earth.
18:40They have great rare earth, meaning certain minerals, materials.
18:43They have things that a lot of places don't have.
18:46It's a big asset that they have.
18:48And we made a deal today where we get, you know, much more in theory than the three hundred and fifty billion dollars.
18:54But I wanted to be protected.
18:56I didn't want to be out there and look foolish.
19:00No, Mr. Trump, if someone is being made look foolish here, it's definitely not you.
19:05It could be the Rada.
19:07It could be the Ukrainian people.
19:09But we know that Vladimir Zelensky is still in control of the parliament in a country where elections are nowhere to be seen.
19:16So all the questions being asked by the MPs and journalists will probably remain unanswered.
19:23Kiev still got power to silence those who need to be silenced and push the deal through without letting the cat out of the bag.
19:33I stay with RT International for all the latest from around the world.