Leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States and their Russian hosts gathered in Moscow for a commemorative day that marks Victory in the Second World War. On May 9, they, along with President Vladimir Putin, will observe the grand Victory Parade from a prominent podium on Red Square. This update came from Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin press secretary, during a broadcast on the program Moscow. Kremlin. Putin on TV channel Russia 1, outlining the day’s schedule and the ceremonial sequence.
Peskov explained that the parade is slated to begin at 10:00 Moscow time. After President Putin concludes his address, the CIS heads of state are expected to join him on the podium, after which they will lay flowers and participate in a casual breakfast hosted to foster informal dialogue among visiting leaders and their Russian hosts.
He added that the parade will start promptly at 10 a.m., with the President delivering remarks before the heads of state join him on stage. A shared wreath will be laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as part of the commemorative activities, a gesture that underscores unity among the participating nations and the enduring memory of those who served. This element of the ritual was highlighted by the Kremlin’s spokesperson as a central moment of the morning events.
On the eve of these ceremonies, Russia’s President spent the evening of May 8 in discussions with Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of Uzbekistan, who arrived in Moscow for a working visit. Shortly before that, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko also arrived in the capital, signaling a broad regional participation in the anniversary events and the ongoing engagement between Moscow and its neighbors.
Earlier in the day, leaders from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia had announced their plans to participate in the Moscow visit, with several announcing working trips focused on the parade and related bilateral meetings. The overall arrangement reflects a coordinated effort to showcase regional cooperation on a day of national remembrance and strategic dialogue, reinforcing shared histories and a sense of regional solidarity among the post-Soviet states.
Observers note that such gatherings provide a platform for informal discussions on security, economic collaboration, cultural exchange, and people-to-people ties that stretch beyond the pageantry of the parade itself. The presence of the CIS members on the podium together with the Russian president is widely interpreted as a statement of continuity and mutual interests at a moment of renewed regional focus. The day’s actions—from the parade to the wreath-laying and the breakfast—are designed to honor veterans while signaling ongoing partnership and regional stability. In Canada and the United States, analysts are watching the timing, arrangements, and tone of the proceedings as indicators of broader diplomatic signals and potential shifts in regional cooperation as relations evolve.