2015:President Maduro Defied the U.S. and Attended the Victory Day Parade in Moscow

An estimated 26 million Soviet citizens died during World War II including as many as 11 million soldiers. (For every single American soldier killed fighting the Germans, 80 Soviet soldiers died doing the same). The Soviet Union played the most important role in the Allies’ defeat of Hitler.   

Victory Day is a holiday that commemorates the victory over Nazi Germany following the signing of the surrender agreement in the evening on May 8, 1945 (May 9, Moscow Time). In Russia during the 1990s, the May 9 holiday was not celebrated with large mass demonstrations. Following Vladimir Putin’s rise to power, the Russian government began promoting the prestige of the government and history and Victory Day commemorations became a source of national esteem. One measure of national pride and esteem was the number of foreign leaders who attended the Parade. In 2005, 50 Heads of State (including U.S. President George W. Bush) attended the Parade.

Invitations to attend the 2015 parade were sent to 68 Heads of State. The Obama Administration refused to attend and pressured other countries to not attend in protest of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.[1] Only 17 Heads of State attended. President Maduro was the only South American leader to attend. While in Moscow, Maduro sat down for an hour-long interview on Russian TV. [2] Later in May 2015, Russia’s state-owned oil company agreed to invest $14 billion in Venezuela’s oil industry. [3]

In 2025 Maduro was one of 29 national leaders to attend the Victory Parade in Moscow. While in Moscow, Maduro and Putin signed a 10-year agreement establishing stronger bilateral ties.[4] 




1.      Guardian, Western leaders’ snub casts shadow over Russia’s lavish Victory Day celebrations, April 15, 2015.

2.      Venezuelanalysis, Maduro in Moscow for 70th Anniversary of V-Day, May 12,2015

3.      Venezuelanalysis, Venezuela and Russia Reach $14 Billion Oil and Gas Deal, May 29, 2015

4.      Venezuelanalysis, Maduro Meets Putin in Moscow During Commemorations of Victory over Nazi Germany, May 9, 2025

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