Moscow, 9 May 2025 (dpa/MIA) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump exchanged congratulations on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II on Friday.

The two heads of state sent congratulations "on the occasion of our joint holiday" through their assistants, Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told Russian state television.

Russia marks the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany every year on May 9, holding a major military parade in Red Square in Moscow.

However, Putin indirectly contradicted the US president, underlining that Soviet Army soldiers played a decisive role in the victory over Hitler's Germany in World War II.

Trump had earlier described the contribution of the US Army as decisive.

Meanwhile in Moscow, few Western leaders attended the ceremonies given the Kremlin's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Of EU and NATO members, only Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico attended. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić also attended the parade and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov praised the two leaders for their visit.

Especially when it comes to Vučić and Fico, "it is simply an act of heroism," Peskov said, referring to Brussels' warnings that people not join the military parade.

MIA file photo