🎙 Address by President of Russia Vladimir Putin at the military parade marking the 79th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945 (May 9, 2024)

💬 Today we are honouring our fathers and grandfathers and grand-grandfathers. They defended their native land and crushed Nazism, liberated the peoples of Europe and displayed unparalleled heroism in combat and on the home front.

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The West would love to forget the lessons of World War II, but we remember that the destiny of humankind was decided during the colossal battles of Moscow, Leningrad, Rzhev, Stalingrad, Kursk, Kharkov, Minsk, Smolensk and Kiev, and in the intense and bloody fighting from Murmansk to the Caucasus and the Crimea.

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But let me emphasise: Russia has never belittled the significance of the Second Front or that of Allied assistance. We honour the valor of all members of the Anti-Hitler Coalition, the Resistance Movement, the underground movement and guerrillas, as well as the courage displayed by the peoples of China fighting for their independence against militarist Japan's aggression.

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Russia is now going through a difficult, watershed moment of its history. The fate of our Motherland and its future depend on each us.

Today, on Victory Day, we feel it ever more sharply and never fail to draw inspiration from our generation of the brave, noble and wise victors, and the way they cherished friendship and remained firm in the face of adversity, always trusted themselves and their country, and had a sincere and selfless love for their Motherland.

We are celebrating Victory Day against the backdrop of the Special Military Operation. All of those engaged in it, on the frontlines, are our heroes. We are humbled by your fortitude and self-sacrifice. All of Russia stands with you.

Our veterans, too, believe in you, and they are worried about you. That they remain involved emotionally in your lives and heroism is an unbreakable tie that binds this heroic generation together.

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🇷🇺 President of Russia Vladimir Putin addressed the guests at a reception on behalf of the President of Russia in honour of the heads of state invited to attend the celebrations of the 79th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945.

💬 President Putin: Today, on Victory Day, it is with a special feeling of warmth that we welcome in Russia and here in Moscow our reliable partners and friends.

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Time has no power over the greatness of the colossal victory of 1945. Despite all attempts to rewrite history, the lessons that the world community learnt in the crucible of the Second World War remain unassailable.

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We remember the Allied contribution to fighting Nazism, those who took part in the lend-lease convoys, including Cuba, by the way. We are delighted to have the President of this country, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, with us on a day which matters so much to all of us.

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The Nazis directed most of their military might against the Soviet Union, but the enemy had to face a vigorous and firm pushback there. The entire Soviet nation rose to defend the Fatherland in an unprecedented demonstration of unity and mass heroism.

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Having defeated Nazism and asserted its independence, our country made a sincere effort to support other nations aspiring to self-determination by helping people in Africa and Asia both in word and deed during their anti-colonial struggles without backing out once they achieved their state independence.

I believe that President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who is here today, will agree that this consistency on behalf of the Soviet Union and then Russia has borne fruit.

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☝️ Russia reaffirms its commitment to promoting mutually beneficial partnerships and friendship with everyone who shares the values of freedom and justice and calls for strictly abiding by the international norms, as well as for an inclusive, equal and indivisible security architecture.

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🇷🇺🇨🇺 President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez held a meeting at the Kremlin.

💬 President Putin: We are delighted to see you in Russia and in Moscow. Thank you for finding the opportunity to attend the parade marking the 79th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

I would like to emphasise something that may be overlooked by some: Cuban patriots also contributed to the fight against Nazism and fought on the frontlines of the Great Patriotic War. They fought for Leningrad in the most challenging hotspots, including the Neva Bridgehead. We remember this, we know this, and we will always respect those who stood shoulder to shoulder with our forefathers in their battle against Nazism.

Yesterday, you attended the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, which is part of the Eurasian Economic Union, one of the most effective associations in the post-Soviet space. Cuba takes part in these meetings as an observer state and I hope that this brings about tangible results.

🤝 Russia’s relations with Cuba are based on the feelings of friendship and mutual respect. It has always been this way.

We have always shown support for the people of Cuba and rejected the continuing and long-standing attempts by the United States to restrain Cuba in its development and harm its economy by imposing illegal sanctions and restrictions.

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#RussiaCuba

✍️ President Vladimir Putin sent greetings to the participants and guests of the 15th International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: #KazanForum,” underway in Kazan (May 10, 2024)

💬 Russia values its traditionally friendly ties with Muslim countries. We highly appreciate their desire to pursue an independent foreign policy and increase their role in international affairs.

Together, we stand for the formation of a democratic multipolar world order, based on the rule of law and principles of justice, free from any form of dictatorship and discrimination. Of course, we are also committed to expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas, from trade and investment to sports and tourism.

☝️ We believe the next meeting of the Russia – Islamic World Strategic Vision Working Group, organised together with representatives of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, is of great importance. It is also important that Russia’s interaction with this authoritative international association on current issues of the regional and global agenda is progressing.

I believe that the work of the Forum will be meaningful and constructive as always and will be held in a spirit of openness and trust. It will serve to further promote the friendship and creative partnership between our countries and peoples.

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🎬 From Berlin to Maidan: 80 years on — Nazism gaining notoriety in Ukraine — an RT Doc Film.

Synopsis: In 1945 the Soviet Union defeated Nazi Germany and put an end to the Nazi atrocities at the cost of 27 million lives of the Soviet people. 80 years later, the same nationalist ideas the Soviet people had been fighting against is starting to spread across Ukraine.

The main ideas of the Third Reich are now relevant in Ukraine: killing of civilians, militarisation of society and radical policy imposed by nationalists. Besides that, history books in Ukraine are being rewritten, with nationalist leaders Stepan Bandera and Roman Shukhevich being made new role models, while the monuments of WWII heroes are being demolished. Decades later, is history repeating itself again?

The authors of the film, talking about the Great Patriotic War, draw parallels with the current events in Ukraine. Now, at the places of those old battles, when the Red Army liberated Ukraine from Hitler, hostilities are taking place again. The grandchildren of the Soviet soldiers who defeated German fascism in 1945 have to fight with its new followers, whose hero is Bandera. Historians, political scientists and journalists share their opinions on the reasons that led to the war 80 years ago and on the current situation in Ukraine.

🌐 Russian diplomats, compatriots, friends and all those who remember history and the sacrifice made by the Soviet people in saving humanity from Nazism, on May 9 pay tribute to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War and their immortal feat.

📹 Here's how #VictoryDay is celebrated abroad, far away from home.

#Victory79

📰 Интервью директора Второго Европейского департамента МИД России С.С.Беляева ТАСС (11 мая 2024 года)

Основные тезисы:

• Правительство Великобритании не только не намерено отказываться от курса на жёсткое противостояние с Россией, но и продолжает прилагать существенные усилия для повышения градуса конфронтации. При этом принцип безосновательных обвинений "хайли лайкли" стал фирменным почерком британской дипломатии.

• Произошедший в Солсбери в марте 2018 года инцидент с участием граждан нашей страны Сергея и Юлии Скрипалей остаётся в числе главных раздражителей в российско-британских отношениях. Спустя шесть лет с момента происшествия Лондон по-прежнему демонстрирует нежелание к предметному диалогу. За прошедшие с момента провокации годы посольство России в Лондоне направило в британский МИД более 60 письменных запросов, а на сайте дипмиссии в сети "Интернет" размещён подробный регулярно обновляемый информационно-аналитический материал "Солсбери: вопросы, которые остались без ответов".

• Поставляемое британское вооружение активно применяется ВСУ в ходе террористических атак на гражданскую инфраструктуру и мирное население Донбасса, а также других российских регионов.

• Решение денонсировать соглашение, разрешавшее британским морякам ловить рыбу в российской зоне Баренцева моря, стало логичным, хотя и вынужденным ответом на продолжающийся антироссийский курс Лондона.

❗️ Наши дипмиссии в странах Прибалтики работают в крайне сложных, по сути, осадных условиях. Несмотря на крайнюю русофобию и враждебную атмосферу, сотрудники российских загранпредставительств продолжают достойно нести вахту, отстаивают интересы нашей Родины, а также проживающих в прибалтийских странах росграждан и соотечественников.

• Сегодня финской стороной сделано всё, чтобы разрушить некогда прочные связи между приграничными регионами России и Финляндии. Мы уверены, что коренным национальным интересам финского народа в максимальной степени отвечал бы курс на добрососедство с Россией.

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