Putin calls for defending truth about common history in his greetings to Ukrainian people
MOSCOW. May 8 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated WWII veterans and all people of Ukraine on the V-Day and urged them to cherish traditions of brotherhood and to prevent inter-ethnic feud.
"It is our duty to defend the truth about pivotal events in our common history and to counter any attempts at inciting inter-ethnic feud and reviving the fascist ideology," Putin said in his telegram published on the Kremlin website.
"I am confident that people of Russia and Ukraine should cherish and never forget about the traditions of brotherhood and mutual assistance behest by our fathers and grandfathers that helped us win the glorious victory together," Putin said.
The president wished "good health, cheerfulness, and longevity" to WWII veterans and "peace and prosperity" to the rest.
He also sent greetings to the leaders and citizens of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia.
In addition, Putin congratulated WWII veterans and people of Georgia on the Victory Day.
The greetings underlined that this victory "is a common priceless possession of the peoples of Russia and Georgia, who fought the cruel enemy together and made colossal sacrifices to save their land and the world from fascism."
"I am confident that we can ensure the constructive development of Russian-Georgian relations and mutually advantageous cooperation in various areas if we rely on the good traditions of friendship and mutual assistance," Putin said in his greetings.
He wished good health, prosperity, and longevity to WWII and Home Front veterans, and peace and prosperity to the friendly people of Georgia.