On May 9, 2025 local time, Russia held grand celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union. President Xi Jinping and leaders from over 20 countries and international organizations around the world, upon invitation, attended the events.

Moscow in May is lush with greenery and flowers in full bloom, with Victory Day flags fluttering in the breeze. The magnificent Red Square is filled with a solemn and majestic atmosphere of the celebrations.

Xi Jinping arrived at the Kremlin, where he was warmly greeted with a friendly handshake by Russian President Vladimir Putin. President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin then walked together to the Red Square and took their seats at the main reviewing stand.

At 10:00 a.m., as the chimes of the Kremlin clock rang, the celebrations began. As the military band played "The Sacred War", the honor guards marched in, escorting the national flag of Russia and the Victory Banner of the Great Patriotic War.

President Vladimir Putin delivered a speech, stating that the Soviet Union defended peace and freedom for all humanity at the cost of tens of millions of lives. He said, "We will forever remember the moment of victory and carry forward the legacy of our forefathers. We will stand united and always uphold the sacred glory". Vladimir Putin said the Chinese people fought bravely, and he highly commended their contributions to forging a shared future for mankind. He said, "We will remember the history of World War II and draw lessons from it. Victory is sacred, history must not be distorted, and the dignity of the victors must not be undermined. History and justice are always on our side."

Following Vladimir Putin's speech, the grand military parade began as the military band played the Russian national anthem and gun salutes echoed across the Red Square. Marching in unison, troop formations participating in the parade passed through the square one after another. In the "historical" part of the parade, Russian service members, dressed in uniforms from the era of the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War, marched with high morale as they held high the military flags and firmly carried weapons of that time, evoking memories of the years of resistance against fascism. In the "modern" part, formations of Russia's various military branches and modern weaponry units lined up in precise order and passed by the reviewing stand. The Russian Aerospace Forces' flight formations roared overhead, soaring across the skies above the Red Square, as the stirring melody of "Victory Day" echoed throughout the square. Armed forces formations from more than 10 countries, including China, were also invited to participate in the parade. The guard of honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, with dignified bearing and high morale, marched across the Red Square in firm and orderly steps.

Following the celebrations, Xi Jinping, along with other leaders, walked from the Red Square to Alexander Garden, where they laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and observed a moment of silence. The leaders then took a group photo.

At noon on the same day, President Xi Jinping attended a banquet hosted by President Vladimir Putin in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union.

Cai Qi, Wang Yi and others attended the above activities.