President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin led commemorations in Moscow on Saturday marking the defeat of Nazi Germany 70 years ago.
Many European leaders had declined to attend the Moscow tribute, with several CEE presidents attending Poland's parallel tributes on Thursday evening, in the wake of a stand-off over the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Speaking on Red Square, Putin thanked Britain, France and the United States, as well as “anti-fascists” of various countries for their contributions to victory.
Reflecting on Russia's death toll during the war – the highest of the Allies - he noted that “it was the Soviet Union that took the heaviest blows of the enemy.”
In a swipe at the US, the Russian president said that “over the past decades we have seen attempts to create a unipolar world.”
He argued that this was “undermining the stability of global development.”
In an apparent dig at NATO, Putin proposed an equal security system for all states.
Guests of President Putin included Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon, who also attended Thursday's events in Poland. (nh)
Source: PAP/AP
Ewa Malcher
