Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday denounced efforts to rewrite the history of World War II, as Russia prepares to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its victory over Nazi Germany.
In a Kremlin readout of their phone conversation, both leaders affirmed their commitment to “defending the truth about the events of World War II” and opposing attempts to distort its legacy.
Putin is expected to deliver a speech on Friday during a military parade marking Victory Day, one of Russia’s most significant national holidays.
“The memory of the heroes of the war, those who gave their lives for Victory, is sacred in both Russia and Israel, where May 9 is also a public holiday,” the Kremlin stated.
The call follows recent remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed the United States contributed most to the Allied victory—comments that sparked criticism in Moscow.
Both Putin and Netanyahu highlighted the “decisive contribution of the Red Army and the Soviet people to the defeat of Nazism,” according to the Kremlin. Israel’s statement echoed that view, stressing the Red Army’s crucial role.
World War II, known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War, cost the Soviet Union over 20 million lives. More than six million Jews perished in the Holocaust.
Putin has consistently drawn on wartime memory to bolster national identity, portraying modern Russia as the heir to the anti-fascist legacy. He has also used accusations of “Nazism” to justify Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its third year.
AFP
