MOSCOW, April 10 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated World War II veterans and citizens of the Ukrainian city of Odessa on Thursday, the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the city from fascist occupation, stressing the common goal of the two countries in honoring the memory of the war.
“The Russian President expressed his conviction that the centuries-old tradition of neighborly relations and mutual support will continue uniting the two nations, and stressed that our common goal is to cherish the memories of the war, stop any attempts to rewrite its history and foster in the younger generation patriotism and pride of the great victory,” the Kremlin press office said in a statement.
Putin also said that representatives of many nations fought together shoulder to shoulder to liberate Odessa and southern Ukraine. Soviet soldiers, partisans and workers on the home front will always serve as an example of selfless courage and valor, he added.
The Russian leader expressed profound gratitude to World War II veterans, wishing them good health and a long life and peace and prosperity to all Ukrainian citizens.
Last month, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Yuriy Sergeyev, said the Soviet Union had fabricated evidence in naming Ukrainian nationalists as criminals at the post-war Nuremberg Trials.
The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the statement in the strongest terms, saying that it was an insult to the memory of the victims of atrocities committed by Ukrainian supporters of fascism.
