Red Army played key role in defeating Nazi Germany: Putin

‘‘Sixty years have passed already, but every year on May 9 the memories of that war stir our minds,” said Putin, who spoke of the horrible consequences of “violence, racial intolerance, genocide and torture”. ‘‘Grief came to every home, every family,’’ he said, declaring that the world owed ‘‘great human thanks’’ to the nearly 27 million Soviet citizens who died.

He said the ‘‘flaming orbit’’ of WW II involved 61 countries and practically 80 per cent of the world’s population, but the most brutal and decisive events unfolded on the territory of the former Soviet Union. ‘‘The Nazis expected to enslave our people, to actually destroy the country in a blitz. Their plans failed and the Soviet Army first stopped the Nazis near Moscow, and then, for three years, not only sustained the onslaught from the enemy but managed to drive it back to its own den.’’

“By liberating Europe and battling for Berlin, the Red Army brought about a victorious end to the war,’’ he added.

Russian security forces sealed off the Kremlin area and Red Square to Muscovites today for fear of a repeat of attacks by Chechen rebels that have marked past celebrations.

World leaders laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the foot of the Kremlin walls. ‘‘I would like to congratulate you for holding an extraordinarily dignified ceremony of remembrance,’’ Schroeder told Putin.

Leaders later shifted into high diplomacy, holding informal meetings on issues such as terrorism, North Korea and West Asia.

The sky was overcast on Monday, but the Russian Air Force sent up An-12 and IL-18 planes to seed the clouds over Moscow with chemical dispersal agents, ensuring it did not rain. (with Reuters)