Russian state media have reported Thursday that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio may attend Moscow’s May 9 celebrations in Red Square to commemorate the end of World War Two.
Zvezda, a TV channel of the Russian defense ministry, cited an unnamed diplomatic source that the U.S. might be represented by Rubio at the show piece event for the Kremlin which parades Russian military hardware.
Newsweek has contacted the U.S. State Department and the Kremlin for a response. There has been no other confirmation of the report and Russian state media is known for spreading misinformation.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the State Department on April 25, 2025 in Washington, DC.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the State Department on April 25, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Why It Matters
The parade in Moscow’s Red Square on May 9 marking the end of what is known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War is an important event for Vladimir Putin and has been shunned by most western leaders since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Media reports in February that President Donald Trump would attend the 80th anniversary were quashed by denials from both the U.S. and the Kremlin. State media reporting that Rubio might attend could be a misinformation ploy amid stalled peace negotiations for a ceasefire in the war Putin started.
What To Know
Zvezda, Russian for star, a state-owned nationwide TV network run by Russia’s Ministry of Defense which pushes an anti-western stance and its pro-war information has led to it being sanctioned by the European Union and Canada.
In a Telegram post on Thursday, it reported that a high-level U.S. representative may be a guest at the Victory Parade on May 9 and “it is possible that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio may take part.”
RBC, which was among Russian news outlets reporting Zvezda‘s claims, said as of Thursday afternoon, the Kremlin had not commented.
Zvezda, a TV channel of the Russian defense ministry, reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio might attend the parade in Moscow on May 9.
The channel quoted “a source in the diplomatic circles” that reportedly said that “The United States might be represented at a high… pic.twitter.com/Lz1dHlgsFi
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) May 1, 2025
Following the first conversation between Trump and Putin, French publication Le Point reported, citing its own sources, reported that the U.S. leader could attend the parade. Trump denied this as did the Kremlin on April 21.
On Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed comments by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Russia should be concerned about the parade, which Russian outlets said suggested that Kyiv was looking to disrupt the event.
Also on Wednesday, Kyiv signed a deal with the U.S. giving American access to Ukrainian minerals which is hoped will bolster Washington’s commitment to providing security to the country against Russian aggression.
What People Are Saying
Zvezda on Telegram: “The United States may be represented at a high level, our source said. It is possible US Secretary of State Marco Rubio might participate.”
What Happens Next
Russian media reported that the leaders of around 20 states will attend the parade, including China’s president Xi Jinping, Serbian head of state Aleksandar Vučić as well as Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who would be the only EU leader participating.
Update 05/01/25, 9 30 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with further information.