On May 9, 2025, Russia commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany with a grand military parade at Red Square in Moscow.
The event, a symbol of national pride, drew nearly 30 world leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping, Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, and our own neighbours, Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré.
Serbia’s Aleksandar Vučić and Slovakia’s Robert Fico were the only European leaders present.
In his Victory Day address, President Vladimir Putin condemned attempts “to slander the real winners” of World War II—a likely reference to both Ukrainian criticisms of the celebration and to U.S.
President Donald Trump’s earlier remarks claiming America did more than “any other country in producing a victorious result.”
“Truth and justice are on our side,” Putin said, adding “Our society stands behind those taking part in the special military operation.
We are proud of their courage and spirit. Russia will remain an invincible defender against those who support Nazism, Russophobia and anti-Semitism.”
However, the celebrations were nearly marred by a series of drone attacks allegedly launched by the Ukrainian military.
Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv’s forces have conducted over 1,600 strikes on Russian civil, energy, and transport infrastructure, causing significant destruction and civilian casualties.
Russia claims that Ukraine even targeted nuclear facilities, including attempted attacks on the Leningrad and Kalinin nuclear power plants in May 2023.
Though a 30-day ceasefire, brokered by President Trump, had been agreed upon, Russia accused Ukraine of violating the terms by launching attacks during the Victory Day parade.
These actions have raised further doubts about Ukraine’s commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Some critics argue that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is prolonging the war for political reasons.
His official term expired on May 20, 2024, and some believe he is using the ongoing war to retain power, avoid political accountability, and secure continued Western financial and military support.
The Russia-Ukraine war has deep historical and geopolitical roots. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine gradually moved closer to the West, seeking integration with the European Union and NATO. Russia, under President Putin, viewed Ukraine’s NATO ambitions as a direct threat to its national security and regional influence.
Despite repeated warnings, Ukraine pushed forward, emboldened by support from Western allies.
This, from Moscow’s perspective, justified its 2022 invasion.
Beyond geopolitics, the war has created a devastating humanitarian crisis.
Thousands of lives have been lost, infrastructure has been shattered, and millions have been displaced, particularly in Ukraine.
The situation grows more complex as foreign powers continue to influence and fuel the conflict.
Ending the war may not serve the strategic interests of certain Western powers.
The economies of major European countries such as France, Germany, and the UK are facing stagnation, yet their military-industrial sectors are booming.
Companies like Rheinmetall, a major weapons supplier to Ukraine, have seen their shares soar.
Some analysts argue that the EU’s military assistance to Ukraine allows Western leaders to distract from domestic failures and declining living standards.
Defence spending has taken precedence over social programmes, with leaders claiming national security as justification.
There is growing concern that Ukraine is being used as a proxy in a wider geopolitical contest—a neo-colonial tool of Western policy. If Ukraine does not reassess its path, it risks becoming a nation sacrificed on the altar of global power politics.
Historical parallels, such as U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam and Afghanistan, show how quickly geopolitical interests can shift, often leaving allies to bear the consequences alone.
President Putin has laid out clear conditions for ending the conflict.
Speaking on June 15, 2024, he stated that Ukraine must withdraw its forces from the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions—within their pre-2014 administrative boundaries.
In addition, Kyiv must formally renounce any plans to join NATO.
“If Kiev announces readiness to meet these conditions and begins the withdrawal process,
Russia will immediately issue an order for ceasefire and commence negotiations,” President Putin said.
The future of the war now hinges on President Zelenskyy’s choices. He can pursue peace and begin rebuilding a war-torn Ukraine, or continue down a path shaped by external interests and mounting internal consequences.
The burden of decision lies heavily on Kyiv’s leadership now!
