Russian President Vladimir Putin and United States President Donald Trump exchanged greetings in honor of Victory Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The messages were conveyed through their respective aides, with Yury Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy advisor, confirming the exchange during an appearance on Channel One on Friday.

The gesture comes amid commemorations in Russia, where a grand military parade was held in Moscow’s Red Square. President Putin used the occasion to make a strong statement about historical legacy. “Russia will never allow the true victors over Nazism to be slandered,” he said. Putin also condemned what he described as efforts to distort historical events and justify those he labeled as executioners, pointing to broader reinterpretations that emerged during the Cold War and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Earlier this month, President Trump announced plans to recognize both May 8 and November 11 as national holidays in the United States, honoring the victory in World War II and World War I, respectively. The move aligns with his administration’s broader effort to strengthen patriotic observance and historical remembrance at the national level.

While the exchange of greetings represents a symbolic gesture between two global powers, it also comes at a time of strained diplomatic relations and differing interpretations of historical and current global events. Analysts note that both leaders continue to use such occasions to reinforce their own narratives and domestic political messaging, even as official interactions remain limited.

The shared remembrance of World War II’s conclusion underscores the enduring global impact of that conflict and highlights the varying approaches world leaders take in shaping the legacy of history for modern audiences.