Russia commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II with a grand military parade on Red Square, attended by dozens of world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, A2 CNN reports. Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a powerful speech in which he stressed the importance of preserving historical truth and thanked the allies for their contribution to the victory over Nazism.
"I congratulate you on the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Today we are united by feelings of joy and pain, pride and gratitude, admiration for the generation that defeated Nazism and brought freedom and peace at the cost of millions of lives," Putin said.
In his speech, he stressed that Russia will not allow the distortion of history and attempts to rehabilitate the dark figures of the war. “We remember the lessons of World War II and will never accept the distortion of its events, attempts to justify the executioners and tarnish the real victors,” he declared.
Putin reiterated Russia's stance against Nazism, Russophobia and anti-Semitism, linking this stance to support for the current war in Ukraine, which he described as a "Special Military Operation".
"We will always remember that the opening of the second front in Europe, after the decisive battles on the territory of the Soviet Union, brought Victory closer. We greatly appreciate the contribution to our common struggle of the soldiers of the Allied armies, the Resistance fighters, the brave people of China, all those who fought for a peaceful future," he said.
The ceremony concluded with a minute of silence in honor of the fallen and with Putin's traditional shout: "Glory to the victorious people! Happy Victory Day! Hurrah!" (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
