Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) Germany commemorated the 77th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe on Sunday.
In his speech to mark the anniversary, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reminded that Ukrainians and Russians fought together against Germany’s “murderous national socialist regime,” DW reports.
Scholz expressed belief that Ukraine will win the war, “just as freedom and security triumphed over oppression, violence and dictatorship 77 years ago.”
He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to destroy Ukraine’s identity and culture, noting that Putin compares Russia’s aggression against Ukraine with the fight against the German Nazi regime.
“That is a falsification of history and a disgraceful distortion… we have an obligation to state this clearly,” Scholz stressed.
As for Germany’s foreign policy on the war, Scholz pointed out that the country will coordinate its plans with partners and not take unilateral action.
He added that Germany plans to maintain the Bundeswehr and not take any action that “could inflict more damage on ourselves and our partners than on Russia.”
Scholz concluded that Germany will “not take any decision that makes NATO a party to the war” and stressed that the country will adhere to these principles.
“Nightmare” in Europe
Earlier on Sunday, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier noted in a speech that “today, on this 8th of May, the dream of a common European house has failed and been replaced by a nightmare.”
He pointed out that the war in Ukraine shows that “the best price on world markets should not be the only thing to determine with whom one does business.”
Also on Sunday, head of the German parliament Bärbel Bas attended a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kiev, according to Reuters reporting.
They discussed Ukraine’s EU aspirations, the war and delivery of heavy weapons, with Bas announcing that the German parliament will speed up “all necessary procedures” for Ukraine’s accession to the bloc.
Germany previously agreed to provide Ukraine with heavy weapons, reversing its long-time policy against sending arms to war zones.
Germans gathered at WWII memorial sites on Sunday to commemorate the end of WWII, while Russia today marks the Victory Day, one of its most important national holidays.