Putin Hosts Leaders to Mark 1945 Victory as His War Drags On

President Vladimir Putin is hosting Russia’s celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. The outcome of the war he started in Ukraine remains far from certain.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico are among leaders from more than 20 countries who’ll join Putin at the annual May 9 Victory Day parade of troops and military equipment on Moscow’s Red Square, according to the Kremlin. Leaders from Egypt, Venezuela, Cuba, Vietnam and Zimbabwe will also attend, along with those of former Soviet states such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.