Vladimir Putin justified the war in Ukraine during his Victory Day speech in Moscow, labeling it a 'just' war against an 'aggressive force' supported by NATO. The event saw muted celebrations and no military hardware displayed for the first time in nearly two decades, amid a three-day ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Putin commemorated the sacrifices of WWII soldiers and highlighted the contributions of Russian citizens to the war effort. Security was tightened due to threats of Ukrainian drones, and fewer world leaders attended compared to previous years.