Trump Left Off Putin’s Guest List; No Seat at Moscow’s Victory Day Parade

A day after their first phone call in months, the Kremlin confirmed Trump was not invited to Russia’s high-profile May 9 military parade while Zelensky questioned whether Putin’s ceasefire offer is real or just parade optics.

Trump Skipped From Putin’s Victory Day Parade Invitation List

The Kremlin confirmed on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin did not extend an invitation to U.S. President Donald Trump for the upcoming Victory Day military parade in Moscow. The announcement came just one day after the two leaders held their first phone call in several months a timing that raised eyebrows worldwide.

Parade Guest List Still Under Wraps

Russia’s official guest list for the May 9 military procession on Red Square has not been made public yet. That said, some world leaders have already confirmed their attendance. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is among those who have publicly stated they plan to be present at the celebrations inside Russia.

Leaders from former Soviet republics including Belarus and nations across Central Asia traditionally stand alongside Putin on the viewing platform. They serve as the parade’s guests of honor every year.

No Military Vehicles This Year; A First in Nearly Two Decades

Russia’s Defense Ministry announced a notable change to this year’s parade format. For the first time in nearly 20 years, military vehicles will not roll through Red Square during the Moscow parade. The Kremlin attributed the decision to security concerns specifically, a recent surge in Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Russian territory.

Putin and Trump’s Phone Call What Was Said

Putin and Trump connected over the phone on Wednesday. The two leaders discussed the ongoing wars in both Ukraine and Iran. During the call, Putin floated the idea of a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine timed to coincide with May 9. Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov shared these details with reporters after the call.

Zelensky Pushes Back Wants Real Peace, Not Parade Theater

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded cautiously on Thursday. He said he had directed members of his team to dig deeper into Putin’s ceasefire proposal but made clear that Ukraine’s real goal is a lasting, long-term peace not a brief pause in fighting.

“We will clarify what exactly this is about a few hours of security for a parade in Moscow, or something more,” Zelensky wrote in a post on X.

Last Year’s Ceasefire Rejected by Ukraine

This is not the first time Putin has proposed a wartime truce around Victory Day. Last year, Putin unilaterally declared a 72-hour ceasefire running from May 8 to May 11 to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II. Ukraine dismissed that gesture as hollow and refused to honor it.