President Vladimir Putin makes on mention of Ukraine crisis in Victory Day speech
- 10 years ago
Russia held its annual Victory Day Parade in Red Square marking the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
It was staged to the backdrop of what is seen as a surge of patriotism sparked by the annexation of Crimea.
President Vladimir Putin in his speech made no mention of the current crisis in Ukraine but his language was rich in symbolism.
“This is the day of national triumph, of people’s pride, of sorrow and of eternal remembrance. This is the holiday when we celebrate the all-mighty force of patriotism, when all of us have very strong feelings of what it means to be loyal to your motherland and how important it is to defend its interests,” he said.
The president who earlier this week signed off a law making the denial of Nazi crimes a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in jail was pointed in his criticism of fascist ideology.
“It was our country who chased the Nazis into their lair, achieved their full and final destruction. We won and paid the price of millions of victims and terrible disasters. We will always protect this sacred truth and we won’t allow anyone to forget or betray the heroes.”
This years parade featured the Black Sea Marine Corps carrying flags of Russia’s Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.
A similar victory parade will be staged in the Crimean City on Friday afternoon to mark the 70th diamond jubilee anniversary of its liberation from Nazi Germany in May 1944.
It remains unclear if President Putin will be present. It would be his first visit to Crimea since its annexation.
German Chancellor Angel Merkel said it would be a “pity” if he did attend.
It was staged to the backdrop of what is seen as a surge of patriotism sparked by the annexation of Crimea.
President Vladimir Putin in his speech made no mention of the current crisis in Ukraine but his language was rich in symbolism.
“This is the day of national triumph, of people’s pride, of sorrow and of eternal remembrance. This is the holiday when we celebrate the all-mighty force of patriotism, when all of us have very strong feelings of what it means to be loyal to your motherland and how important it is to defend its interests,” he said.
The president who earlier this week signed off a law making the denial of Nazi crimes a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in jail was pointed in his criticism of fascist ideology.
“It was our country who chased the Nazis into their lair, achieved their full and final destruction. We won and paid the price of millions of victims and terrible disasters. We will always protect this sacred truth and we won’t allow anyone to forget or betray the heroes.”
This years parade featured the Black Sea Marine Corps carrying flags of Russia’s Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.
A similar victory parade will be staged in the Crimean City on Friday afternoon to mark the 70th diamond jubilee anniversary of its liberation from Nazi Germany in May 1944.
It remains unclear if President Putin will be present. It would be his first visit to Crimea since its annexation.
German Chancellor Angel Merkel said it would be a “pity” if he did attend.