Putin on Victory Day: “There is No Force, and There’ll Be No Force, That Could Conquer Our People”

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There is no force, and there’ll be no force, that could conquer our people. We couldn’t prevent this horrible tragedy, firstly, due to connivance at the criminal ideology of racial supremacy, due to the disunity amongst the world’s leading countries, which allowed the Nazis to appropriate the right to decide the destiny of other peoples, to unleash the cruelest and bloodiest war, and to enslave and make almost all European countries serve their deadly goals. We feel a deep and strong kinship with this generation of heroes and victors. Moreover, I’ll tell them the following… you’ll never feel ashamed of us! The Russian soldier today, like in all the times, shows courage and heroism, and is ready for any podvig*, for any sacrifice, for the sake of his Motherland and his people.

• Podvig: Should NEVER be “Englished”… one of the most powerful words in the Russian language. There are literally no English equivalents strong enough. Podvig has overtones of “epic”, “heroic”, “bravery”, “self-sacrifice”, “victory”, “effort”, and “triumph”. It’s best to leave it as is, and admit that English lacks the necessary material to give meaning to this word.

The lessons of the past war urge us to be vigilant and the Russian Armed Forces are capable of repelling any potential aggression, but today life itself requires increasing our defence potential. However, we need the entire international community to come together to fight terrorism, extremism, neo-Nazism, and other threats effectively. We’re open for such coöperation. Russia will always be on the side of those in the world who choose the road of fair partnership, who reject war as being alien to the very essence of life and human nature. The further the events of the Great Patriotic War recede into history, the higher our responsibility before future generations. We must pass stability and peace on the planet to them; pass on the harsh and heroic truth about the Patriotic War and the Great Victory’s spirit and essence, so that our descendants love Russia fervently as well. People should keep in their memory the generation that selflessly fought for the Motherland and defended its freedom and independence with honour.

9 May 2017

TASS

http://tass.com/world/945093