Zuma in Russia to commemorate World War 2 victory

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma arrived in Moscow yesterday to celebrate “the then-Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany during the Second World War”.

Zuma is in the Russian Federation “at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin to attend the commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War”.

He will attend the annual Victory Day Celebrations today, as well as hold bilateral discussions with President Putin on the sidelines of the festivities.

“This visit will further cement the strong and warm relations between South Africa and the Russian Federation‚” the Presidency said.

President Zuma is accompanied by International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

Europe held sombre ceremonies to mark 70 years since victory over Nazi Germany yesterday as leaders warned of modern day threats such as the war in Ukraine and Islamic extremism.

Celebrations of the World War 2 victory in Europe were muted a day before Moscow rolls out its full military might at a parade which is being snubbed by Western leaders due to tensions over the crisis in Ukraine. Poland opened Victory Day celebrations with a midnight ceremony in northern Westerplatte, where the first shots of the war were fired on September 1 1939.

In France, President Francois Hollande laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier at a solemn ceremony under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris after urging citizens not to grow complacent about war.

US President Barack Obama also marked the anniversary, expressing solidarity with Europe and hailing the victorious Allied troops as a “generation that literally saved the world”.

Victory day is celebrated across Europe on May 8.

Germany marked its liberation from the Nazis in a joint session of parliament where speaker Norbert Lammert hailed the willingness of the country’s neighbours to forgive.