Bush, other leaders join in Russian

MOSCOW -- With a flourish of martial showmanship and solemn remembrances, the world's leaders yesterday marked the 60th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, putting aside differences over historical interpretation for a moment of solidarity.

In the shadow of the Kremlin walls near Lenin's tomb, President Bush joined Russian President Vladimir V. Putin and the leaders of France, Germany, Japan, China, Italy, and dozens of other nations for a traditional display of Soviet military might on Red Square as jets streaked overhead trailed by red, white, and blue smoke symbolizing the Russian tricolor.

Bush, Putin, and the others then walked in tandem to Russia's nearby tomb of the unknown soldier and deposited red carnations in tribute to the sacrifice of the Soviet people, who lost an estimated 27 million of their countrymen during World War II and played an indispensable role in breaking the back of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich.

Bush later flew to Tbilisi, capital of the former Soviet republic of Georgia, for a visit intended to underscore US support for democracy in nations that have shaken off communism.

''For the peoples of the former Soviet Union, it will always be the day celebrating the great feats they achieved together," Putin said in a short speech in Red Square before the parade. ''And for the countries of Europe and the entire planet, it marks the day when the world was saved. Our fathers and grandfathers were willing to lay down their lives for the honor and freedom of their country. They were united and defended their fatherland. I bow low today before all veterans of the Great Patriotic War."

Left unspoken were the disputes of recent days over the legacy of Soviet domination in Central and Eastern Europe that followed the end of World War II. Bush stopped in the Baltic state of Latvia en route to Moscow to demonstrate that he understood that many millions of Europeans ended up trading one tyranny for another at the end of the war. But while US officials urged Putin to use the occasion to acknowledge the Soviet occupation of the Baltics, Putin refused and bristled at the suggestion.

Neither president made any mention of the issue after Bush arrived in Moscow on Sunday night and headed to Putin's country residence for a show of friendship and dinner with their wives. Aides said Bush had made his point and saw no reason to continue the discussion publicly. Unlike most foreign trips, the White House arranged a schedule in Moscow where Bush would make no speech and give no news conference to avoid upstaging Putin on a day when the Russian hoped to showcase his leadership.

The two leaders continued to demonstrate personal chumminess yesterday as Putin gave Bush the most prominent seat next to him on the reviewing stand and the two traded smiling comments.

After Putin's speech, Bush leaned over and appeared to compliment him; as the cameras captured the moment, Putin put his hand on Bush's arm and mouthed the words ''thank you" in English.

Bush evinced no discomfort reviewing a parade of goose-stepping soldiers, some hoisting banners that said ''USSR" and bore the visage of Lenin. In his speech, Putin recommitted to a path of democracy, while pointedly noting that Russia would define the term its own way.

In recent years, Putin has consolidated power back in the Kremlin and eliminated most alternative sources of influence in Russian society, taking over independent television, pushing democratic opposition parties out of parliament, eliminating the election of regional governors, jailing business tycoons, and effectively renationalizing Russia's largest oil company.

''Our policy is based on the ideals of freedom and democracy and the right of every nation to choose its own path of development," he said. ''Our policy is founded on trust and the search for future progress and development prospects for all peoples."

Among those leaders who joined him for the event were French President Jacques Chirac, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Polish President Alexander Kwasniewski, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, Belarusan President Alexander Lukashenko, Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Representing the vanquished Axis powers were German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

But several leaders of former Soviet republics boycotted, mindful that for them the end of the war marked another half century of despotism.

Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus and Estonian President Arnold Ruutel refused to attend out of memory of the occupation of their states, while Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili backed out in protest of Russia's failure to live up to promises to withdraw troops from two bases still on Georgian soil.