Representatives of the Anti-Hitlerist Coalition took part in a spectacular military parade in Russian capital Moscow on the occasion of 65 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

For the first time, foreign troops marched on the Red Square in Russia’s annual parade dedicated to the victory in the Second World War, dubbed the Great Patriotic War.

The foreign participants in the parade included troops from the US, the UK, France, and Poland, four NATO member states; there were a total of 13 foreign nations but most of them were former Soviet states.

The parade itself was the most large-scale display of Russian military equipment since Soviet times including latest missile complexes Topol-M, tanks T-90, and over 120 military aircraft.

Some 10 000 soldiers marched in downtown Moscow in the parade, which started with the famous Russian song “Sacred War” but ended with the “The Ode of Joy”, the EU anthem in order to highlight the connection between Victory Day and the Day of Europe, which is also celebrated on May 9.

“In 1945 not only military but also a great moral victory has been achieved. A common victory. All peoples of the former USSR have struggled for it. Our allies were advancing it. And today soldiers of Russia, CIS countries and anti-Hitler coalition States will march together triumphantly. A single rank is an evidence of our common readiness to defend peace, not to allow to revise the outcomes of war and new tragedies,” stated Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in his speech as cited by ITAR-TASS.

A number of foreign leaders were present at the ceremonies in Moscow, including Chinese President Hu Jintao, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. French President Sarkozy and Italian PM Berlusconi canceled their visits over the discussions of the issues related with the Eurozone finances.

Bulgaria is represented by President Georgi Parvanov who has no official meetings scheduled during his brief Moscow visit.