Moscow states Putin, Trump greet each other on Victory Day

(MENAFN) Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump exchanged Victory Day greetings through their aides, according to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov. The exchange included warm, mutual congratulations on what Ushakov described as a “great, shared holiday.” Washington has not publicly commented on the interaction.

The greetings coincided with Russia's commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. The day featured nationwide ceremonies and a grand military parade in Moscow’s Red Square, attended by more than 30 foreign leaders from countries such as China, Brazil, Egypt, and Serbia. However, U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy declined the invitation to attend the parade, according to Russian state media outlet TASS.

Despite this, several U.S. World War II veterans were present at the event, joining others from Mongolia, Armenia, and Israel.

President Trump also issued a public statement on Thursday, referring to May 9 as “Victory Day for World War II” and celebrating the success of the Allied forces. However, he notably excluded any mention of the Soviet Union’s role, a move that has previously drawn criticism from Moscow.

In his Victory Day address, President Putin emphasized the importance of remembering the true history of the war and firmly rejected any attempts to distort it.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has advocated for a ceasefire in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. On Thursday, he urged both sides to commit to a one-month unconditional truce, aligning with a 72-hour ceasefire previously declared by Russia. He warned that any violations of a future ceasefire would carry consequences for both Moscow and Kiev.

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