Putin vows to defend “Russian interests” on World War II victory day Vladimir Putin News

President Vladimir Putin has said his country will “firmly” defend Russia’s national interests, denouncing the return of “Russophobia” and warning that Nazism will be revived.

Putin’s speech on Sunday began with the annual parade, which shows military hardware on the streets of Moscow. More than 12,000 military personnel took part in the march, as well as about 190 military equipment and 76 aircraft and helicopters.

The parade marked the 76th anniversary of the victory of Nazi Germany in World War II.

“The Soviet people kept their sacred oath, defended their homeland and freed European countries from the black plague,” Putin told the people.

“Russia is constantly defending international law. At the same time, we will firmly defend our national interests to ensure the security of our people. “

The Russian leader condemned what he called the tremendous return of ideologies of the time, “when the slogans of racial and national domination, anti-Semitism and Russophobia became increasingly cynical.”

“Unfortunately, many Nazi ideologies – those who were obsessed with their deceptive theory of exclusivity – are trying to put them back into service,” Putin said.

Victory Day parades – which became an annual event after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 and have become increasingly important in projecting Russia’s renewed strength during Putin’s two decades in power – were also held in dozens of cities across the nation.

Russian tanks are heading for the Red Square on Moscow Victory Day [Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP]

Tensions with the West

Memories of Sunday came in Russia in the last few weeks because of Spanish scandals that diplomats were expelled from European countries, the United States and the European Union imposed new sanctions on the Kremlin-imprisoned Kremlin critic. Alexey Navalny and allegations of hacking and cyberattacks.

Tensions have also risen over the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has erupted since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and Moscow has been seen as supporting pro-Russian separatists.

Clashes between government and separatists they have increased in a conflict that has affected more than 13,000 lives since January.

Russia last month drew 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border and in Crimea, the largest congestion since 2014, although many announced a reduction in what Joe Biden saw as a test for the new US president.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Kyiv last week for a demonstration in support of Ukraine ahead of an expected summit between Putin and Biden next month.

On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, along with European diplomats, sided with the Russian region east of Lugansk to commemorate the end of World War II.