North Korean troops join Putin’s scaled-back military parade as Ukraine agrees to temporary ceasefire

Key Points:

• Russia scaled back its traditional Victory Day parade in Moscow’s Red Square due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and concerns over potential Ukrainian drone attacks, with President Vladimir Putin attending amid tight security.
• A rare U.S.-led three-day ceasefire allowed the parade to proceed without incident, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy assuring no attacks would target the event in exchange for a prisoner exchange.
• North Korean troops participated in the parade for the first time, underscoring Moscow’s growing military partnership with Pyongyang, while Russia also showcased its newly formed military drone forces.
• The scaled-down parade and heightened security reflect Kremlin anxieties about vulnerabilities exposed by Ukrainian drone strikes, marking a shift from past displays of military strength to a more cautious approach.
• Victory Day remains a significant national holiday in Russia, but analysts note that under Putin it has become heavily politicized and militarized, with the Kremlin linking the historic WWII victory to its current conflict in Ukraine.