Putin Hosts 29 Leaders For Victory Day Amid Drone Threat

Vladimir Putin will host 29 foreign leaders at the 9 May Victory Day parade in Moscow this Friday, including the leaders of China, Brazil, Belarus, Cuba, Vietnam and Venezuela, alongside North Korean delegates honouring soldiers killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic are also expected. Local Victory Day parades in occupied Crimea have already been cancelled over security concerns.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned Kyiv “cannot be responsible” for what happens in Russia during the parade, and Ukrainian drones struck Tuapse oil refinery for a fourth time this week.

Russian forces gave up 67 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory in the month to 28 April, the second consecutive month of net Russian retreat.

Putin’s display of friendly autocrats may mask a war turning against him.