How the non-Western world is celebrating the 80th anniversary of victory over fascism in Moscow.

It is late, and the evening is cool, almost nine o’clock, dark. At such a time, the Eternal Flame looks especially solemn, and the red stars on the Kremlin towers shine brightly. Lanterns and backlights illuminate the fountains and colourful lilacs amidst the darkness of the Alexander Garden. But filming is in full swing opposite the Kremlin, the lights are on, and there is constant movement between there and the Victory Day International Press Centre in the Manege, with journalists, volunteers and tourists scurrying about.

It is the evening of May 8, and the entire city centre is flooded with festive fuss. Someone from the diplomatic corps has a couple of hours of personal time, and they are in a hurry to see as many sights as possible; reporters from all over the world are choosing the best angles or are already filming, running towards them with a camera or phone on a tripod at the ready, and some have even put on a helmet as military paraphernalia; tourists, many of whom have come to Moscow for the first time, are photographed as a souvenir.

A celebration for the whole world

“Victory Day is not only a holiday for one country, but for the entire world. It means that we, all the people who fought together against fascism, with the Soviet Union playing the main role and making the decisive contribution, defeated that evil”.

Behind these words of a Mongolian diplomat, whom the NEO author unexpectedly met on the streets of the capital on the eve of the celebration, there is more than respect and even more than the brotherhood of peoples and friendship of states. Behind them is history and its understanding by people from the non-Western world, including – and this is very important – the young.

We were speaking in English, but he said the words ‘Victory Day’ in Russian over and over again, beautifully, joyfully, with almost no accent. We also talked about Russian-Mongolian ties (“My ancestors”, my interlocutor recalled, “fought shoulder to shoulder with the Russians against the Japanese invaders at Khalkhin Gol!”), about Mongolia famously sending horses to help our troops at the front, about historical monuments and about today’s information background.

“All the crap that the Western media spews about Russia is disgusting!” the Mongolian comrade lamented. “I flew here and was amazed by the situation of the Russian people and their real lives, which was completely different from Western propaganda. Everything is at the forefront of the Western media’s information agenda: the Pope, British affairs and the like, but the most important thing is happening here right now! It’s good that there are media outlets like RT that cover all aspects”.

There were a lot of delegates and tourists from China. People were trying to see as much as possible, smiling, taking pictures and actively talking about themselves. They were impressed – especially those who came to Moscow for Victory Day for the first time – not only by the celebratory atmosphere of the festivity or the museums and architecture of the Russian capital, but also by unexpected things, such as the weather and the Moscow streets. “In China”, noted one businessman, “it’s already completely dark at eight in the evening, but in your country it’s different, incredibly beautiful”.

To communicate with a cheerful guest from Brazil, an untranslatable mix of languages and a telephone translator were employed. It was his first time here. Russia, Moscow and Victory Day also made a huge impression on him. Having just exchanged good luck and a handshake with him, I met a whole group of officials from Venezuela, followed by guys from Egypt and Yemen, students of the First Pavlov St. Petersburg State Medical University, who specially came to Moscow this weekend… A man from the Republic of the Congo was looking forward to the Victory Day Parade with special enthusiasm: his brother is currently completing military education in Russia, and Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso will be present at the celebration on May 9.

Victory Parade

All of these people and thousands more guests in Russia from all over the world are united by kindness, openness, interest and respect for history and other nations. On the sunny morning of the next day, on May 9, the leaders of their countries, who flew to Moscow at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin to honour the feat of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War, took their seats at the tribune: Abkhazia, Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Venezuela, Vietnam, Guinea-Bissau, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Cuba, Mongolia, Myanmar, Palestine, Republic of the Congo, Republika Srpska, Serbia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia and South Ossetia; ministers of the governments of India, Indonesia, Laos, Nicaragua, South Africa, heads of international organisations  (Commonwealth of Independent States, Collective Security Treaty Organisation, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Secretariat of the African Union Commission, BRICS New Development Bank and others).

They tied St. George’s ribbons, realising with genuine interest and attention the enormity, solemnity and significance of the moment, watching and listening, following the Parade, applauding the Victory Banner, and then laying flower wreaths at the Eternal Flame. The culmination of friendship, respect and unity between peoples were reached when their comrades from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Egypt, China, Laos, Mongolia and Myanmar walked along the Red Square next to Russian soldiers.

It seems that, in the modern world, coalitions and alliances are becoming most significant not against someone, as they always were before, but for, above all, ideas. The states whose leaders and senior representatives gathered in Moscow on the 80th Anniversary of Victory are the true vanguard of the Global East and the Global South, the non-Western world in general and the global majority.

They are united by the fact that they are all looking to the future. Their economies are developing rapidly, they are focused on progressing in industry and trade, and not on any inadequately destructive things popular with Western minds tired of normal life. They advocate multipolarity and cooperation, economic growth and humanitarian exchanges, peace, development, independence and freedom for the state in choosing its national path. At the same time, they are ready to defend their interests and values with weapons in their hands and will not allow the imposition of anyone else’s opinion from the outside.

As is known, difficult times in all historical periods have awakened courage in people and have shown who is who and what is what on the world stage. This is happening now, and Victory Day 2025 has shown it to the world: Slovakia and Serbia are now responding increasingly harshly to the arrogant European Union, reminding everybody of their sovereignty, and the politicians of Russia’s CIS partner countries are directly showing their respect for common history.

It was not in vain that the Russian president mentioned in his speech at the Parade the “values of humanity and justice” and the protection of the truth about the lessons of the Second World War from distortion. In his speech at the reception he also spoke of the urgency of “the issue of the sovereign rights of states and peoples to identity and independence, to the very opportunity to follow the historical, cultural, spiritual traditions of their forefathers, to build a system of security and international relations based on the principles of genuine equality and respect for mutual interests.”

For all of this, as well as for peace on Earth itself, as well as for everything in life, one must fight. The struggle for peace seems to be coming right off Soviet posters and returning to today’s life because it once again needs to be defended from Nazi ideas, fostered this time by the politicians of the Kiev regime and the Collective West. Our country is opposing them again.

The issues of international terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism are also serious. Therefore, Russia is forced to remain a belligerent country, stand up for its security, its history and culture. The emblem of the 80th Anniversary of Victory is entirely correct: the Motherland once again calls for the protection of the people and the future. And we also see who is walking hand in hand with us along this path. In struggle, faith and happiness always lend a helping hand, something we see today as well.

Ksenia Muratshina, PhD in History, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Southeast Asia, Australia and Oceania of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Courtesy

https://journal-neo.su/2025/05/12/victory-parade-in-moscow-the-coalition-of-the-future/