One track was visual—parade formations and aerial displays; the other was infrastructural—pipelines and policy papers.
Putin called ties with China “unprecedented,” linking political and economic strategy.
Kim Jong-un’s visit with Kim Ju-ae placed North Korea within the event’s central tableau.
Putin’s meeting with Robert Fico pointed to new debates over European energy routes and Ukraine’s future.
Visa-free travel and broad agreements suggested sustained, practical cooperation ahead.