Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to host an elaborate Victory Day parade in Moscow today, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany. The event is expected to be grand, with over 20 foreign leaders in attendance, including China’s Xi Jinping and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. It marks the fourth such parade since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In a gesture to mark the occasion, President Putin has declared a temporary humanitarian truce with Ukraine. However, Kyiv has rejected the move as insincere, branding the celebration a “parade of cynicism” and warning it cannot assure the safety of foreign dignitaries participating in the event.