MOSCOW - World leaders whose countries faced off on the battlefields of World War II paid tribute today to the fallen soldiers and millions of civilian dead, joining Russian President Vladimir Putin on Red Square for a lavish military parade celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany.

Fighter jets screamed high over the square, streaming smoke in the white, blue and red colors of Russia's flag. Soldiers belted out patriotic wartime songs, and Putin emphasized the Soviet Union's sacrifice in a speech during a pageant that recalled the days of communist might.

Flanked by President Bush, French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Putin said his country would never forget the debt owed to the millions of Soviet citizens who died to defeat Nazism.

He called the Allied triumph over the Nazis a "victory of good over evil."

"It obligates us to great responsibility and forces us to deeply recognize on what a ... precipice the world stood at that time, what monstrous consequences violence and moral intolerance, genocide and persecution of others could lead to," he said, speaking from a stage that blocked direct views of Lenin's Mausoleum.

The Soviet Union lost an estimated 27 million people during the conflict known here as the Great Patriotic War. Few families were untouched, and May 9, 1945, celebrated in Russia as Victory Day, remains sacred across most of the former Soviet Union.

Bush and Putin put aside their public sniping of recent days over postwar Soviet domination and present-day democratic backsliding in Russia.

Continuing the chummy exchanges that marked their discussions and dinner the evening before, the two smiled broadly when Bush arrived for the parade. As Bush lowered his umbrella, despite the rain, for a snapshot, Putin laughingly did the same.

Putin reserved the seat next to him for Bush - whom he called his guest of "special importance" above all others. Later, Bush remained glued to the Russian leader's side as they strolled, red carnations in hand, to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.While Russians have often complained that the Soviet role is not fully appreciated in the West, Putin said that "we have never divided the victory between ours and theirs, and we will always remember the help of the allies."Under overcast skies, white-haired veterans bedecked in gleaming medals, some waving red carnations, rode across the cobblestone square in green trucks as the audience cheered.The ceremony, full of Soviet imagery, began with four goose-stepping soldiers dressed in ceremonial green and gold embroidered uniforms carrying a red flag with a hammer and sickle - a replica of the banner of the Red Army's 150th Rifle Division, which was flown from the Reichstag on May 1, 1945, after the building in Berlin was seized.The word "victory" was emblazoned on the Kremlin wall in several languages, including those of the vanquished.Soldiers in modern and World War II-era uniforms - infantrymen with metal helmets and red flags topped by Soviet insignia, sappers with dogs, tank men with black padded helmets - marched in tight formation, the slap of their boots echoing across the cobblestones.Putin thanked the Soviet Union's allies for their role and called for unity among the former Soviet republics - and the world."I'm convinced that there's no alternative to our fraternity, our friendship with our close neighbors. And Russia is prepared to build such ties with the rest of the world, that are strengthened not only by lessons of the past, but also by aspirations to our common future," he said.Putin also drew a parallel between the war and the present-day threat of terrorism, saying today's generation is "obligated to remain true to the memory of our fathers, obligated to build a world order based on security and justice ... and not to allow a repeat of either cold or hot wars."He and the other leaders laid red carnations and a huge carpet of red roses at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the Kremlin Wall to honor soldiers who perished in World War II. They stood silently before the eternal flame burning at the tomb.