Russian Embassy in Washington, DC

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"The spirit of the Elbe" by Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the USA Anatoly Antonov This May marks the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War (the fight against Hitler’s regime during the World War II went down in our country’s history with this name). There are no families in Russia that remained untouched by the War. In June 1941, the Soviet Union took the main brunt of Third Reich’s war machine that managed to take almost the entire Europe under its control. Despite all burdens and hardships, Soviet people not only defended independence of their Motherland, but also liberated many countries of Central and Eastern Europe from Hitler’s oppression making a decisive contribution to the Victory over Nazism. During its offensive operations the Red Army freed prisoners of concentration camps, thus ending the Holocaust. Hundreds of thousands of innocent people were saved from perishing in the Nazi conveyor of death. However, the Victory came with an immense price. The aggressors killed over 27 million people of our compatriots (more than half of whom were civilians), the memory of whom we will treasure forever. The anniversary of the Victory is also a good opportunity to pay tribute to the brotherhood-in-arms between our states at that time. Moreover, this year we celebrate a special date in Russian-American relations. 75 years ago – on April 25, 1945 - the USSR and U.S. troops met at the Elbe river near the German city of Torgau. This event became one of the highest points in the allied relations of the anti-Hitler coalition. The meeting was held in the spirit of friendship and fraternity. A photograph captured the handshake of Red Army lieutenant Alexander Silvashko and U.S. Army second lieutenant William Robertson became world-famous. The traditions of partnership between our countries forged in battles, are a clear testimony that only by joining our efforts can we cope with the global challenges and threats humanity is facing today. Russia and the United States, being the two largest nuclear powers and members of the UN Security Council, have a special responsibility for maintaining international stability and security. Since there is a lack of mutual trust in our relations at the current stage, we could and should appeal to those who had the wisdom and courage to ignore their disagreements for a great purpose. The living hosts of the Spirit of the Elbe — Soviet and American veterans of World War II — are still allies, as they were back in 1945. Their meeting at the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory in Moscow should inspire the modern generation of Russians and Americans to overcome existing problems for the interests of the entire world. Such a meeting is already being prepared and will certainly take place when the new worldwide “plague” retreats. This misfortune, by the way, has already demonstrated our mutual readiness to help each other, as in the times of the Lend-Lease. We are glad that together with the veterans the representatives of President Donald Trump, U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. Armed Forces Mark Milley, will come to the celebrations. It is time for a new Meeting on the Elbe. READ THE FULL TEXT AT: https://washington.mid.ru/en/victory_75/ LEARN MORE: Joint statement by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and President of the United States of America Donald Trump commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the meeting at the Elbe: http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/63277 Special issue of Russia Beyond commemorating 75 years since the Victory with Introductory remarks by Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov: https://issuu.com/rbth/docs/all_pages_75anniversary

Russian Embassy Weekly 133 by Russian Embassy in Washington, DC

Our today’s special edition is all about historical truth. The topic was raised by our neighbors – the Embassy of Finland – that told a story about the 80th anniversary of the end of the war between the Soviet Union and Finland. We do not dispute the right of our colleagues to tell the American people about the relations of their countries with Russia or the Soviet Union. However, since they have yet again surpassed normal diplomatic ethics, we will have to restore the balance and allow the readers and listeners to form an objective take on the historical events for themselves. Sources and further reading: - Why Stalin didn't annex Finland during WWII: https://www.rbth.com/history/330994-why-stalin-didnt-annex-finland - Interviews with juvenile prisoners of the Finnish Camp in the occupied Karelia: https://www.petkafilm.com/materials - Declassified War-Time Documents Shed Light on Finnish Atrocities in Karelia Prison Camps: https://sputniknews.com/europe/202004161078984429-declassified-war-time-documents-shed-light-on-finnish-atrocities-in-karelia-prison-camps/ - Finnish volunteers in SS units took part in WWII Nazi atrocities, Finland says: https://www.timesofisrael.com/finnish-volunteers-in-ss-units-took-part-in-wwii-nazi-atrocities-finland-says/ - Finnish radio to air unique Hitler-Mannerheim recording: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/oct/15/radio.internationalnews - Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oET1WaG5sFk - Book Sheds Light on Atrocities of Finnish Nazis Left Unpunished: https://sputniknews.com/europe/201810231069126775-finland-nazi-crimes/ - Nazi Hunters Demand Finland's Answer on Volunteers' War Crimes in Waffen SS: https://sputniknews.com/europe/201801181060857525-finland-jews-waffen-ss/ - Former Concentration Camp Prisoner Ready to Testify Against Crimes of Finnish Occupiers: https://sputniknews.com/russia/202004231079068602-former-concentration-camp-prisoner-ready-to-testify-against-crimes-of-finnish-occupiers/ - Ex-Concentration Camp Prisoners Ask Investigation Committee to Deal With Actions of Finnish Invaders: https://sputniknews.com/russia/202004231079067297-ex-concentration-camp-prisoners-ask-investigation-committee-to-deal-with-actions-of-finnish/ Listen: - Symphony of Struggle: More than Music for City under Siege: https://youtu.be/RF3I9xsGP5A?t=19 - Karelian Front march: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b7BCJzNMAI - Viktor Tsoi's "Kukushka", Karelian version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssDi8gcngkA

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