MOSCOW(Sputnik) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday thanked visiting UN General-Secretary Ban Ki-moon for helping uphold peace, as Russia celebrated the end of the bloodiest war in human history.
"We are grateful to you… and all people at the [UN] international organization for your contribution to upholding international peace," the Russian leader said at a meeting with the UN chief in Moscow.
Putin recalled that the United Nations was formed soon after the end of the war by countries that defeated Nazism, and in this light it was appropriate for the UN head to come. "It was formed to prevent this tragic history from repeating itself," the president said.
On Saturday, Russia staged the biggest ever military parade to honor the memory of those who fought in the war against fascism. About 30 heads of states and governments attended the celebrations in Moscow.
