“Ignoring the opportunity to demonstrate one’s attitude towards that fight of the Soviet Union against fascism is disrespect to that boundless courage shown by all people who fought against the “brown plague,” the former Soviet president said in an interview with Interfax news agency.
“I am convinced that without Russia it would be impossible to achieve this victory. Moreover, I have no idea how far this black-and-brown line could have spread and maybe it would have even kept spreading to this day,” said the politician.
Gorbachev is convinced that the US authorities are trying to solve their burning ideological and political tasks, which explains why they have refused to come to Moscow.
“Well, and where is common sense here?” he questioned. “There should be a drop of common sense in the actions of American and not only American authorities.”
Moreover, Gorbachev thinks that the refusal of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to come to Moscow on May 9 has been also made under “official Washington pressure.”
The former president said that he treats Merkel with respect and understands her behavior,
“I am convinced that this decision has been made under strong pressure from the US government. Politics is politics,” he stated.
On the other hand, he added, Merkel could not have missed this occasion completely, could not have failed to pay tribute to the Soviet people for their fight against Nazism. She is widely seen as an anti-fascist, adherent to the liberating mission against Nazism and is paying tribute to all of those who had been fighting with arms in hands and underground, in woods and even in jails.
Gorbachev added that he wants to be sure that both Russians and Germans do understand the huge responsibility which falls on the present generation to preserve and protect the peace and good relationship between Russia and Germany.
