Speaking at the Victory Parade, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that the Soviet Union fought alone against Nazism in the early years of the Great Patriotic War, while much of Europe collaborated with Hitler. However, he emphasized that Russia never underestimated the significance of the Second Front.
"In the first three long and arduous years of the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet Union, all the republics of the former Soviet Union, practically fought alone against the Nazis, while almost all of Europe supported the military might of the Wehrmacht," Putin said.
"Russia has never underestimated the significance of the Second Front and the assistance of allies. We honor the courage of all warriors of the anti-Hitler coalition, resistance fighters, underground fighters, partisans, and the bravery of the Chinese people who fought for their independence against the aggression of militarist Japan," Putin stated. He assured, "We will always remember, never, never forget our collective struggle and the inspiring traditions of alliance."
The Russian president pointed out that "the West would like to forget the lessons of the Second World War." "But we remember that the fate of humanity was decided in grand battles near Moscow and Leningrad, Rzhev, Stalingrad, Kursk, and Kharkov, near Minsk, Smolensk, and Kiev, in the difficult, bloody battles from Murmansk to the Caucasus and Crimea," the Russian leader emphasized.
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Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS