They went on vacation: the second in the history of the Victory Parade in Beijing will be held with Putin, but without Europeans

According to five sources acquaintances with the situation, European diplomatic missions in Beijing were invited to the parade and events of the same day, but especially concerned about the presence of the Russian leader against the background of activation of Moscow attacks on Ukrainian territory. And also the fact that Russian troops may take part in the parade, SCMP reports.

As the war in Ukraine is delayed, some European diplomats felt contradictory feelings because of the presence of "the same troops who invaded Ukraine," one of them said, although there are no confirmations that Russian troops would participate in the Beijing Parade. In June, the Kremlin stated that Putin would visit China from August 31 to September 3 to participate in a rare military parade, which Beijing conducts to commemorate the end of World War II, as well as to visit the Sanghai Summit.

The parade, which is expected, will be only the second similar parade, conducted by China in the end of the war, will give Beijing the opportunity to demonstrate the combat capability of its armed forces and increased impact on the world stage. The Kremlin did not report if Russian troops would march with Chinese servicemen at the parade this year. At the first parade of 2015, there were 76 people in the elite Russian Honorary Guard.

Sources reported that strict restrictions or instructions as to who the European embassies should be sent to the West, and some ambassadors decided to refuse to participate. Others, according to them, decided to go on vacation or spend vacation abroad during the same period. According to one source, the Ambassador of the European Union to China Horge Tledo will not be present at the parade.

Another source stated that Europe could send a "convincing signal" about its unity and a war on the war in Ukraine if its ambassadors refused to participate in the parade, as Chinese officials tried to put pressure on European missions to confirm their participation. In 2015, the event was attended by foreign ministers of France, Hungary and Italy, and the Czech Republic and Serbia sent their presidents.

The West also attended the former Prime Minister of Great Britain Tony Blair and former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. In 2025, so far, only Serbia President Alexander Vuchich and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo confirmed their participation in the parade next month. Presidents, or Prime Ministers of Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar, will also arrive.