Foreword:
On May 9, 2025, Russia held a parade to celebrate the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War on Moscow's Red Square. This is also the most important Red Square parade that Russia has held three years after the outbreak of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The conflict is nearing its end, and Russia has basically achieved its military objectives. Therefore, many foreign politicians were invited to participate. This Red Square parade is not only a historical commemoration but also an "indicator" of the international political landscape. The conflict continues, with Western sanctions against Russia being tightened, and Russia urgently needs this grand event to break diplomatic isolation and reshape its image as a major power. Putin invited politicians from many countries, including the United States. However, the attitudes of various countries show distinct contrasts.
1
The U.S. is actively seeking to ease tensions with Russia, but structural contradictions intertwined with internal confrontation have left the U.S. quite conflicted in reality. Upon receiving the invitation from Russia for the parade, the U.S. did not refuse but has consistently failed to respond positively. Previously, there was news that U.S. Secretary of State Rubio would personally visit Moscow. The U.S. Department of State promptly refuted this rumor, stating, "There are no relevant travel plans to announce at this time." Clearly, the U.S. is quite conflicted about getting closer to Russia. Currently, all of Europe is refusing to attend the Red Square parade, and if the U.S. abandons its allies, it will face significant pressure.
After obtaining the mining agreement, the U.S. has stated that it will no longer mediate the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, but instead leave the decision to the two countries involved. This shows that the U.S. changes its attitude toward Russia for interests and will also be conflicted in dealing with its relations with Russia because of interests. The peace proposal put forward by the U.S. maximally satisfies Russian demands, but Ukraine cannot accept it, nor can Europe.
In terms of territorial sovereignty in Ukraine, NATO's eastward expansion, and conflicts between U.S. hegemony and Russian interest expansion, the differences between the U.S. and Russia are structural. It will be difficult for both sides to bridge these differences in the short term. There are still many hardliners within the U.S., and domestic controversy over "aligning with Russia to counter China" is immense. If Trump were to attend the Red Square parade high-profilely, it might risk the collapse of the alliance system. The U.S. does not wish to endorse Russia's "international recognition," which itself reflects the U.S.'s pragmatic considerations based on real interests.
2
Modi did not attend, neither did India's Defense Minister Singh. India only sent a deputy to participate, highlighting India's speculative mentality of playing both sides. Modi announced due to the tense situation between India and Pakistan, he would not personally go to Moscow to attend the Red Square parade but chose to send the Defense Minister. However, the latest news is that the Defense Minister will not attend either. According to reports by India Press Trust Agency (PTI) and India Business Line on May 3, originally planned to attend the Victory Day Parade in Moscow on the 9th instead of Prime Minister Modi, Defense Minister Singh canceled the Red Square parade activity and sent his deputy, Sanjay Seth, to attend on his behalf.
Puting personally invited, and given the close relationship between Russia and India, India responded so perfunctorily to Putin by sending only a deputy defense minister to participate. This clearly is not normal. India relies heavily on Russian military equipment (accounting for more than 60% of its weapon imports), and needs Russia's neutral stance on the Sino-Indian border issue. On the issue of Indo-Pakistani relations, Russia also stands by India. In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India bought large amounts of oil and gas from Russia and then resold them to Europe, making a fortune and becoming the biggest winner.
On May 2, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar discussed key issues in Russian-Indian relations. It can be seen that Russia highly hopes that India will send important figures to attend the Red Square parade. However, India remains cautious. India is accelerating its integration into the "Indo-Pacific Strategy" led by the U.S., Japan, and Australia, trying to seek balance between East and West. The absence of Modi's government from the Red Square parade is both a compromise to Western pressure and a warning against approaching China and Russia. More importantly, India currently does not want to offend Europe, as India must rely on Europe to realize its dream of becoming a great power.
3
At a critical moment, China announced its high-level participation in the Red Square parade. China's consistent stance of justice and responsibility gives Putin the strongest support. Since 2015, when the Chinese honor guard first appeared on Red Square, China and Russia have formed an "inter-host" interactive model. China and Russia mutually invite each other to participate in the Victory Day parade, becoming important partners in defending historical justice and international order. In 2025, the PLA honor guard participated in the parade alongside the armies of North Korea and Russia. This is not only a continuation of the historical alliance but also a silent response to the Western "China-North Korea-Russia Axis Theory."
In the parade speech, Putin emphasized "opposing hegemonism" and "defending the fruits of World War II victory," which is highly consistent with China's concept of a "community with a shared future for mankind." Cooperation between China and Russia in energy, military, technology, and other fields has transcended "tactical collaboration" and moved towards "strategic symbiosis." For example, the China-Russia Eastern Gas Pipeline project (annual supply of 38 billion cubic meters) ensures China's energy security while providing economic support for Russia to break through Western sanctions.
Pu puts trust in true friends at critical moments, knowing who genuinely defends justice. "True friends reveal themselves in times of difficulty," these were Putin's words. China's support is not only reflected in diplomatic settings but also injects vitality into Russia's economy through economic and trade cooperation (such as increasing the proportion of Renminbi settlement to 28%). Under circumstances where the U.S. and India have reduced their level of participation, China fulfills its commitment and provides Russia with the most important support. Naturally, this allows Putin to understand who the true friends are.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7500523835221934630/
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