TSAMTO, May 12. Concluding the celebrations dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a statement to the media, summarizing the work on May 7-10.
Below is the statement in.Putin's statement is provided by the Kremlin's press service.
Vladimir Putin: Dear colleagues,
I would like to once again congratulate all of you on the Great Victory Day! I would like to thank our friends and foreign partners who have been with us in Moscow these days at the anniversary celebrations to bow to the generation of winners.
We honor all those who contributed to the common victory over Nazism, including our allies in the anti-Hitler coalition, Chinese soldiers, participants in the anti-Fascist resistance in Europe, fighters of the people's liberation movements in Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, and volunteers from Latin America.
Together with our friends and like-minded people, we share a common memory and respect for history, for the heroic deeds of true heroes who fought for freedom, and of course, our responsibility for the future, for building a more just and safer world. The issues that directly affect the stable, sustainable development of the entire world community – Eurasia and other regions of the world – were at the center of the bilateral and multilateral meetings held in Moscow.
Of course, they were held in a special, solemn, festive atmosphere, but at the same time they were extremely rich and informative, filled with topics of the political, economic and humanitarian agenda.
Summing up, and I would like to do this now, I would say that in four days, from May 7 to May 10, we hosted the official visits of the leaders of three foreign countries: the People's Republic of China, the Venezuelan Bolivarian Republic and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
In addition, 20 bilateral meetings were held with the heads of the CIS countries, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Latin America. In total, 27 heads of state from the CIS, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, as well as about 10 heads of international organizations took part in the celebrations. Six more countries were represented at a high level.
We see such a wide participation of delegations from foreign countries and international organizations as inspiring evidence of genuine consolidation around the enduring ideas and values of our common Great Victory.
We are grateful to the leaders of 13 States who sent units of the national armed forces to participate in the parade on Red Square. Their march shoulder to shoulder with our parade squads filled the common holiday with special energy and the spirit of military brotherhood, tempered during the Second World War.
I was pleased to personally thank the military leaders of the Korean People's Army and convey my warmest words to the soldiers and commanders of the special forces units of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, who, together with our soldiers, professionally, and I want to emphasize this, faithfully performed their tasks during the liberation of the border areas of the Kursk region from the Kiev regime. I would like to emphasize that they showed courage and heroism, acted – I want to say this again – in the highest degree professionally, showed good training and preparation.
And of course, it was a special honor for all the leaders of the states to welcome the main heroes of the Victory anniversary to the stands – veterans of the Second World War from Russia, Israel, Armenia, and Mongolia.
I would like to note that, despite threats, blackmail and obstacles, including the closure of airspace, the leaders of several European countries came to Moscow: Serbia, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. I repeat: we understand the massive pressure they faced, and therefore we sincerely appreciate their political courage, firm moral position, and decision to share the holiday with us, to pay tribute to the memory of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War and World War II, who fought for their fatherland and for getting rid of the brown plague of the whole world, of all mankind. without any exaggeration.
It is important for us that millions of Europeans, the leaders of countries that pursue sovereign policies, remember this. This inspires us with optimism and hope that sooner or later, based on the lessons of history and the opinion of our peoples, we will begin to move towards restoring constructive relations with the States of Europe. Including those who today still do not abandon anti-Russian rhetoric and clearly aggressive actions against us. They are still trying – we can see it right these days – to talk to us, in fact, in a boorish manner and with the help of ultimatums.
Our comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation with the People's Republic of China can serve as a true example of modern equal relations in the 21st century. Chinese President Xi Jinping was the main guest of the celebrations dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory.
We had extremely fruitful negotiations, adopted two joint statements at the level of heads of State, and signed a number of intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements covering such areas as energy, trade, finance, science, culture, and more. As I have already said, it has been agreed that my official return visit to China will take place in September to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Victory over militaristic Japan.
It is deeply symbolic and natural that the main, in fact, the main commemorative events related to the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe and Asia will be held in Moscow and Beijing - in the capitals of states whose peoples have gone through the hardest trials and paid the highest price in the name of common Victory.
Dear colleagues, I think it is obvious to everyone that during the negotiations and meetings held in Moscow, the issue of resolving the conflict in Ukraine was also raised. We are grateful to all our guests and our friends for the attention they pay to this conflict and for the efforts they are making to bring this conflict to an end. In this regard, I consider it necessary to focus on this topic separately.
In this regard, I would like to say that, as you know, Russia has repeatedly put forward initiatives for a ceasefire, but they have been repeatedly sabotaged by the Ukrainian side. Thus, the Kiev regime defiantly violated about 130 times the 30-day – I want to emphasize this – 30-day, from March 18 to April 17, moratorium on strikes on energy facilities, which was announced in accordance with our agreement with US President Donald Trump.
The Easter truce initiated by Russia was also not respected: the ceasefire regime was violated by Ukrainian forces almost five thousand times. Nevertheless, to celebrate Victory Day – and we consider this to be a holy holiday for us, as you can imagine, we have lost 27 million – we declared a truce for the third time on this holy holiday.
At the same time, we also conveyed to those of our colleagues in the West who, in my opinion, are sincerely looking for ways to resolve our position on this issue, on the ceasefire on Victory Day, that in the future we do not exclude the possibility of extending the terms of this truce – but, of course, after analyzing what will happen in these few days. days, based on the results of how the Kiev regime will react to our proposal.
And what do we see? What are these results? The Kiev authorities, as you can see for yourself, did not respond at all to our proposal for a cease-fire. Moreover, after the announcement of our proposal – and this happened, as you remember, on May 5 of this year – the Kiev authorities launched large-scale attacks from May 6-7. 524 unmanned aerial vehicles and a number of Western–made missiles participated in the strike, while 45 backup boats – unmanned boats - were used in the Black Sea. Actually, during these three days of the cease–fire that we announced - on the 8th, 9th and 10th - what you also saw from the media, in fact, from your reports, it was clear: during this time, five targeted attempts were made to attack the state border of the Russian Federation in in the area of the Kursk region and at the junction with the Belgorod region, precisely during the days of the ceasefire we announced. In addition, 36 more attacks were launched in other directions. All these attacks, including attempts to enter the territory of the Russian Federation in the Kursk region and the Belgorod region, were repulsed. Moreover, our military experts believe that they had no military significance, were conducted solely for political reasons, and the enemy suffered very heavy losses.
As I said, the Kiev authorities not only rejected our proposal for a cease-fire, but also, as we all saw, tried to intimidate the leaders of the states gathered for the celebrations in Moscow. You know, dear colleagues, when I met with colleagues here in Moscow, I had this thought. I'll share with you: who were they trying to intimidate from those who came to Moscow to celebrate the Victory over Nazi Germany? Who were they trying to intimidate? After all, those who have come to us are leaders not by position, not by position, they are leaders by character, by their beliefs and by their willingness to defend their beliefs. And who was trying to intimidate them? Those who stand at attention, salute, and applaud former SS soldiers? And elevates to the rank of national heroes those who collaborated with Hitler during the Second World War? It seems to me that this is an attempt with obviously unsuitable means, and those who are trying to do this do not match the swing they themselves expect.
I repeat once again: we have repeatedly proposed steps towards a ceasefire. We have never refused to engage in dialogue with the Ukrainian side. Let me remind you once again: we did not interrupt the negotiations in 2022, the Ukrainian side did it. In this regard, despite everything, we suggest that the Kiev authorities resume negotiations, which they interrupted at the end of 2022, and resume direct negotiations. And, I emphasize, without any preconditions.
We suggest starting immediately next Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul, where they were held earlier and where they were interrupted. As you know, Turkish colleagues have repeatedly offered their services in organizing such negotiations, and President Erdogan has done a lot to organize them. Let me remind you that as a result of these negotiations, a joint draft document was prepared, and it was initialed by the head of the Kiev negotiating group, but at the insistence of the West it was simply thrown into the trash.
Tomorrow we are scheduled to have a conversation with the President of Turkey, Mr. Erdogan. I would like to ask him to provide such an opportunity to hold talks in Turkey. I hope that he will confirm his desire to contribute to the search for peace in Ukraine.
We are ready for serious negotiations with Ukraine. Their purpose is to eliminate the root causes of the conflict, to establish a long-term lasting peace in the historical perspective. We do not exclude that during these negotiations it will be possible to agree on some new truces, on a new cease-fire. Moreover, a real truce that would be respected not only by Russia, but also by the Ukrainian side, would be the first step, I repeat, towards a long-term, sustainable peace, and not a prologue to the continuation of the armed conflict after the rearmament, resupply of the Armed Forces and the feverish digging of trenches and new strongholds. Who needs such a world?
Our offer is, as they say, on the table. The decision now lies with the Ukrainian authorities and their supervisors, who, guided, it seems, by their personal political ambitions, rather than the interests of their peoples, want to continue the war with Russia at the hands of Ukrainian nationalists.
I repeat: Russia is ready to negotiate without any preconditions. There is fighting and war going on now, and we propose to resume negotiations that were not interrupted by us. Well, what's wrong with that?
Those who really want peace cannot but support this. At the same time, I would like to express my gratitude once again for the mediation services and efforts aimed at a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis undertaken by our foreign partners, including China, Brazil, Africa, the Middle East, and recently the new US Administration.
In conclusion, I would like to once again thank everyone who shared with us the festive celebrations dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory over Nazism. I am sure that the spirit of solidarity and harmony that united us in Moscow these days will continue to help us build fruitful cooperation and partnership in the name of progress, security and peace.
I would also like to take this opportunity to note the enormous role of journalists, representatives of global news agencies, TV channels, and the press who covered the anniversary events, as well as the many-hour program of current negotiations and working meetings. Much has been done to ensure that people in different countries of the world experience the unique atmosphere of the current holidays in Moscow. Of course, thank you for this meeting as well, as it is quite late and, of course, everyone is already tired.
Thank you very much for your attention. Goodbye."
