Things are not going so well for Russia

"The annual ritual that is the Victory Day Parade in Moscow serves a dual purpose. It reminds Russia's citizenry and the Kremlin's audience across the former Soviet Union of the glorious past. The muscle flexing on May 9 each year benchmarks Russia's geopolitical fortunes."

"Last year on the 80th anniversary of the Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin was flanked by foreign dignitaries from far and wide: Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Serbia's Aleksandar Vucic, Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt and Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority."

"This year, the lineup was much less impressive. Leaders from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia and Uzbekistan attended with Republika Srpska, Abkhazia and South Ossetia for some added flavour but no heavy hitters like India or China. The talk of Russia as a linchpin of a new multipolar world order rings a tad hollow today, not least because no heavy equipment was marched through during the parade out of fear of Ukrainian drone strikes."

"On top of it, United States President Donald Trump claimed credit for a three-day ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv. The relatively dull affair that was this year's parade speaks volumes about Russia's current state. On paper, everything is going just fine. Trump has not wholly abandoned the idea of a deal to freeze the war in Ukraine, even at the cost of major concessions by Kyiv."

The Victory Day Parade in Moscow functions as a reminder of past Soviet glory for Russian citizens and audiences across former Soviet states. The event also serves as a benchmark for Russia’s geopolitical fortunes. In the 80th anniversary year, Putin was accompanied by prominent foreign leaders from multiple countries, signaling broad international engagement. In the following year, attendance included more limited partners and regional entities, with fewer major powers present. The parade featured no heavy equipment due to fears of Ukrainian drone strikes, undermining the display of strength. Claims of a short ceasefire and shifting US policy priorities add uncertainty to prospects for freezing the war. Economic factors such as higher oil prices and partial sanctions relief improve Russia’s finances, even as military and diplomatic signals appear weaker.

Read at www.aljazeera.com