Russian President Vladimir Putin's major Victory Day parade began in Moscow on Friday, marking 80 years since Nazi Germanys defeat. With more than 20 foreign leaders attending, including Chinas Xi Jinping, the Kremlin aims to showcase strength amid its war in Ukraine. Putin announced a "humanitarian" truce over the holiday.

Russian PresidentVladimirPutin's lavishWorld War IIVictory Day parade began in Moscow on Friday, an event theKremlinhopes will rally patriotism at home and project strength abroad as its troops fight inUkraine.

More than 20 foreign leaders, including Chinese PresidentXi Jinpingand Brazilian President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva, attended the annual parade this year, the fourth sinceMoscowlaunched a full-scale military assault on its neighbour in February 2022.

Officials promised that commemorations this year the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany would be the "biggest" ever, withPutinordering a "humanitarian" truce with Ukraine over the holiday.

Ukraine, which has dismissed the truce as a farce, has called the events inRussiaa "parade of cynicism" and has warned that it cannot guarantee the safety of world leaders attending.

The festival began with a massive parade of military equipment and soldiers through Red Square, culminating in an address from the Russian leader.

Since sending troops into Ukraine,Putinhas frequently drawn parallels between Russia's modern-day army and the Soviet soldiers who foughtNaziGermany.

At a dinner in honour of foreign leaders visiting the parade,Putinproposed a toast to "victory".

Russia began its assault on Ukraine in February 2022, hoping to take the country in days, but has since become embroiled in a huge, bloody conflict that has killed tens of thousands.

Read morePutin and Xi vow to protect shared version of 'historical truth' in Kremlin talks

'Dear friend' Xi

Security has been tight in Moscow, where organisers have banned attendees from bringing vape pens, electric scooters or "any animals" to the Victory Parade.

Authorities have also jammed mobile internet connections in the capital, citing the threat of Ukrainian attacks.

Putinunilaterally ordered a three-day truce for the duration of the holiday, starting Thursday, but Ukraine has accused Russia of breaking it hundreds of times.

Kyivargues the parade has "nothing to do with the victory over Nazism" and that those marching on Red Square were "quite likely" implicit in crimes against Ukrainians.

The two most important guests this year are China's Xi Jinping andBrazil'sLuiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Despite warnings fromBrussels, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico also attended the only leader from theEuropean Unionto take part.

Read moreTrump reiterates call for unconditional 30-day Ukraine ceasefire

Aleksandar Vucic, president ofSerbia, a country with historically strong ties to Moscow, also joined.

The day before the parade, Xi andPutinmet in the Kremlin, where the two held talks for more than three hours.

After their meeting,Putinaddressed the Chinese leader as his "dear friend", while the two issued messages of defiance towards the West.

'Great Patriotic War'

World War II is officially remembered in Russia as the "Great Patriotic War", beginning with Germany's surprise invasion of theSoviet Unionin 1941 and ending with Germany's capitulation in 1945.

The period between 1939 and 1941, when the Soviet Union had a non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany, is glossed over in officialhistorybooks.

The war had a devastating impact on the Soviet Union, resulting in more than 20 million civilian and military deaths.

Throughout his quarter-century in power,Putinhas tapped into this national trauma, making May 9 Russia's most important public holiday and championing his army as defenders against fascism.

Authorities banned criticism of the military weeks after the Ukraine offensive began, and have since charged thousands in the biggest domestic crackdown in Russia's post-Soviet history.

School textbooks introduced since the offensive refer to Ukraine as an "ultra-nationalist state", likening it to the Nazi occupation government which ruled the country between 1941 and 1944.

In a speech announcing the offensive against Ukraine,Putinsaid the Russian army aimed to "de-Nazify" the country, a claim Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyhas called "incomprehensible".

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Originally published on France24