Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to deliver a speech today in Red Square, addressing Russian forces and leaders from around 20 countries as the nation commemorates the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, a celebration that continues amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Despite Western efforts to isolate Russia, the event will see the participation of several key allies, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and leaders from Kazakhstan, Belarus, Vietnam, Armenia, Cuba, and Venezuela.

Notably, the guest list also includes Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who defied pressure from Brussels to attend, as well as Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, who is wanted by Bosnian authorities.

The occasion, now a yearly tradition in Moscow, will feature a massive military parade showcasing Russian armed forces, amid heightened security and escalating tensions with the West.