China showcased its military strength with a massive parade in Beijing, where President Xi Jinping hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un in a rare joint appearance. The event, marking 80 years since the end of World War II, displayed nuclear-capable missiles, drones, laser weapons and other advanced systems, underscoring China’s modernization drive, BBC reported.

In his address, Xi said the world faced a choice between “peace and war,” urging nations to value peace and work for shared prosperity. Putin and Kim later held private talks, discussing North Korea’s support in Ukraine, where Pyongyang has reportedly sent troops and ammunition in exchange for financial aid and weapons assistance.

According to BBC, most Western leaders skipped the parade, though dignitaries from Iran, Pakistan, Vietnam, Zimbabwe, Slovakia and Serbia attended. President Donald Trump criticized the gathering, accusing Xi, Putin and Kim of conspiring against the US, a claim Moscow dismissed as “ironic.”