Vladimir Putin appealed to the Austrians in Russian and German and thanked the Chancellor of Austria, Sebastian Kurz for the invitation to speak. "in the Spring of 1945, Soviet troops stormed Berlin. They have worked towards this goal for almost four years, through the hell of the bloodiest in the history of mankind war. They didn’t want this war, they didn’t want her, she was imposed on the Soviet Union" – he recalled.
"the Nazis attacked treacherously, secretly, in an instant, crossed out peaceful life of our country and its multinational people," the President continued. "the Heroic and sacrificial was the way the Soviet people to Victory. We admire their bravery, will and fortitude. They were able to overcome the inhuman trials and to defend their native land, determined the outcome of the Second world war, liberated Europe, got the Victory I’ve been waiting for the whole world" – he emphasized.
"the Memory of the dead, the events of the war, the defence of truth about it and honor the genuine heroes – not just our duty. It is a matter of our conscience before the whole generation of winners. They gave everything in order that we, their descendants, did not know of the tragedy of war. And today we too must do everything so that no one will ever dare to unleash it again. This is our common responsibility towards future generations", – said the President.
"Great Victory saved humanity. It opened the way to the revival of an independent, dynamic, democratic Austria. For her release gave their lives more than 26 thousand Soviet soldiers", – said the head of state and thanked him for the respect for war graves. The memory of the dead, the events of the war, the defence of truth and honor heroes – not just total debt, but a matter of conscience before the generation of victors, Putin said. "They gave everything in order that we, their descendants, did not know of the tragedy of war. And today we too must do everything so that no one will ever dare to unleash it again. This is our shared responsibility to future generations," he said.
Russia will remember the contribution to the defeat of Nazism, the allies, all who fought in the anti-fascist underground, to remember the millions of people, the elderly, women, children, whom the Nazis destroyed, to remember the tragedy of the Holocaust, as the President said.
Putin wished the people of Austria prosperity, peace and prosperity, success in overcoming the total of a new threat – the spread of coronavirus infection. "We’re all fighting this epidemic, and support each other in these naros��s very important," he said.
