Putin gives a speech on Victory Day: NATO, visible threat to Russia

He said the NATO military alliance, where Ukraine has expressed ambitions to join, is the key “threat visible” for Russia.

“Special Military operation” Russia's Ukraine é, as Putin calls the invasion of neighbour '%, was a necessary “ ” and “at the time”, the Russian leader said.

“In Kiev have said they can secure nuclear weapons, and NATO has begun exploring the lands near us. This has become an obvious threat to our country and our borders. Everything has shown that there is a need to fight”, Putin said, without bringing any evidence of his claims.

He added that Russia “has urged Europe to find a fair compromise, but it has not wanted to listen to”.

Putin said that the death of every soldier and officer “is painful” and stressed that the Russian state “will do everything to care for their families”.

“You are fighting for your country, for its future”, Putin told Russian soldiers fighting east of Ukraine.

Russia today marks Victory Day, or what is known as the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.

Troops, tanks, rockets appeared at Moscow Red Square and other cities in the country.

Russian Vice President Vladimir Putin, this day has turned into a show of Russian military power, as well as in the event of remembering World War II sacrifices.

Some 27 million Soviet citizens have been killed in what the Russians call the Patriotic Great War.

Kremlin said the military parade has been held in 28 cities in Russia, where 65,000 people, 2,400 military equipment and more than 400 planes participated.

This year, however, the event took place under the shadow of war in Ukraine. Russia has begun its neighbour's conquest on 24 February, as it has not received assurances from NATO that it will no longer expand to the east.

Thousands of people have been killed in the war, while millions more have been displaced from their homes.

Russia refers to the invasion as <x0).

There have been speculation that Putin could use today's opportunity to make a big announcement about the invasion.

Western officials have said he could declare full-scale war in Ukraine, but Kremlin has denied such a thing

On the eve of this day, Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said Russia “has forgotten everything that has been important to World War II winners”.

He said the whole free world can see Ukraine is “the path of good in this fight” and added that Russia “will be lost because evil always loses”.

Western leaders also used Victory Day to condemn Russia's actions in Ukraine.

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who visited Ukraine, said Putin “is going against values, for which so many people have fought and killed”.

The leaders of the group of more industrialized countries, known as the G7, said Putin's actions brought “urp to Russia and the historic sacrifices of its people”.