Putin in Crimea for WWII parade would be a 'pity': Merkel German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday it would be a "pity" if the Russian president were to "use" the commemoration of World War II victory for visiting Crimea. Merkel was responding to a reporter's question at a joint press conference with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades about media reports that Vladimir Putin could attend a May 9 military parade in his first visit to the peninsula since Russia annexed the territory in March. Images and soundbites