Russia’s Victory Day Parade: Putin’s power play making EU & West nervous

This Friday, Russia celebrates Victory Day—marking 80 years since the Soviet Union’s triumph over Nazi Germany. But the meaning of this day has shifted. What once symbolized military valor now echoes geopolitical defiance. In 2025, the parade in Red Square is more than a tribute to history; it’s a global message. Vladimir Putin has extended invitations to major world leaders—even as some decline or fall ill. Others tread carefully. Why is Europe suddenly so jittery about a Russian celebration? Is the Kremlin using this symbolic day to showcase new alliances? And what message does a high-security parade, lacking key Western guests, really send? This episode of Grey Zone with Ananya Dutta decodes the theatre, the diplomacy, and the message behind Moscow’s most watched holiday. Because in today’s world, history isn’t just remembered, it’s weaponized.