Putin accuses the West of “denying” Russia’s sacrifices during World War II

Russian President Vladimir Putin published a long historical article accusing the West of taking an anti-Russian stance based on “denial” of the sacrifices it made in World War II, days before Moscow celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over the Nazis.

This victory and sacrifice made by 27 million Soviets during the war is at the heart of the Russian President’s nationalistic speech. 

A major military parade will be held to celebrate the anniversary on June 24 in Moscow instead of the traditional May 9 parade that was postponed due to the emerging Coronavirus.

Putin wrote on the pages of the conservative American Nationalist magazine, “The historical denial that we notice its manifestations in the West, and above all with regard to the Second World War and its consequences, is dangerous” because it undermines the “principles of peaceful development” of the world as defined by the allies in 1945.

In this long-awaited article, the Russian President repeats his accusations of Europeans, led by the Poles, of wanting to hold the Soviet Union and the burden of war on one level with Nazi Germany. 

Germany and Russia signed a secret agreement to share Eastern Europe, especially Poland.

Putin again directed his arrows to Warsaw and to a new European Parliament resolution condemning the invasion and partition of Poland in September 1939, reiterating that the Soviet Union had no other choice because the British and French had subjected to the Nazis during the Munich agreements of 1938, and that the Poles had blown up opportunities to an alliance between Paris, London and Moscow.

“The tragedy suffered by Poland (with the German invasion on the one hand and the Soviet on the other hand) falls entirely on the responsibility of the Polish authorities,” Putin also accused of complicity with Hitler in the months leading up to the invasion.

Vladimir Putin considers that the questioning of the Soviet role in World War II undermines the foundations of the international system born in 1945 and founded on the United Nations.

He also renewed his call for a summit of the five major countries, who are the permanent members of the Security Council, that is, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom and the United States, noting that “the world is going through turbulent times”.

On the agenda, the economic crisis resulting from the Corona virus is suggested.

He wrote, “Our ability to coordinate and work together as true partners will determine the severity of the impact of the pandemic and how quickly the global economy emerges from recession”.

Putin proposed this formula at the beginning of 2020, during the commemoration of Auschwitz’s liberation in Israel. 

Moscow said the other leaders were in principle in agreement, but no timetable had been set.