Putin calls for unity as WWII victory marked
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E-mail China Daily, June 25, 2020
Russia proposes more reliable global security system as V-Day parade held
Russia is open for dialogue and cooperation in creating a reliable global security system, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday during the Victory Day parade in Moscow.
The parade, which had been delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak, marked the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in the 1941-45 Great Patriotic War.
The event started in the morning with the banner-carrying group of the guard of honor battalion of the Preobrazhensky Regiment bringing to Moscow's Red Square the Russian flag and the legendary Victory Banner－the latter hoisted over the Reichstag building in Berlin by the combatants of the 150th Idritsa division in 1945.
"We understand how important it is to strengthen friendship and confidence among peoples...Only by uniting together can we protect the world from new dangerous threats," Putin said in his speech.
He stressed the need of the fast-changing world to create a reliable common security system.
In the speech, Putin honored the military victory, stressing the country "will protect and defend the fair truth of the Great Patriotic War", an integral part of World War II that lasted from 1939 to 1945.
The future of the world could not have been imagined had it not been for the role of the Red Army, Putin said.
Putin also slammed the West for "insulting Russia" by playing down the USSR's role in winning the war.
Russian political analyst Anton Barbashin said the victory over the Nazis was by far the biggest and most significant historical event for contemporary Russia.
"For the Kremlin, it is the most effective way to unite the diverse peoples of Russia. It supports the Kremlin's foreign policy aspirations and, in general, Russian attitudes toward great power status," Barbashin said of the parade.
General Oleg Salyukov, commander of Russia's ground forces, said earlier that the parade is not a manifestation of Russian militarism but a celebration for the Russian people.
Still, with the display of advanced weapons, Russia has gained the attention of the world again.
This year's parade included nearly 13,000 soldiers from 13 countries, as well as Russian vintage equipment and the latest military hardware.
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