Latest News

80th anniversary of the great victory over Nazism

Published

5 months ago

May 7, 2025

admin

Facebook X

By Vladimir Zheltov, Ambassador of Russia to Kuwait

80 years have passed since the end of the Great Patriotic War. This is how we, in Russia, call the period of World War II from Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, until Germany’s eventual defeat and capitulation on May 9, 1945. Since then, several generations have passed and the political map of the globe has changed drastically. The Soviet Union, which made a decisive contribution to the victory over Nazism and saved the world from the “brown plague” of fascism, no longer exists.

For many people nowadays the events of that war are but a distant past. However, it left a deep mark in the historical memory of our nation. The war affected literally every Russian family. Our common responsibility before the past and future generations is to do everything in our power to prevent such terrible tragedies from recurring. World War II did not break out suddenly and unexpectedly overnight. It was a result of many tendencies and factors in the global politics of that historical period. What predetermined the greatest tragedy in human history was Germany’s revanchism being a consequence of its humiliation in the aftermath of World War I as well as state egoism of European powers.

The latter tried to placate the rising aggressor and encourage him to push eastward. Now it is well known what the Western policy of appeasement has led to. Against this background, until the last moment the Soviet Union attempted to form anti-Hitler coalition. However, due to actions of the Western countries, the USSR alone had to face the Nazi Germany and its satellites. The dreams of global superiority led to the outbreak of World War II in September 1939. On the eve of Germany’s invasion of the USSR in June 1941, almost all of Europe was under the boot of the Third Reich.

Meanwhile, economies and resources of the occupied countries were put to the service of the German war machine. Its attack on the USSR was only a matter of time. For the Soviet Union that war did not come as a surprise, our country had been expecting and preparing for it. However, the onslaught was of an unprecedented and destructive force. We confronted the strongest army in the world of that time, supported by the industrial potential of almost all of Europe.

When Nazi Germany (the German Wehrmacht) invaded the Soviet Union during World War II, troops from other European countries that were allied with or controlled by Germany also participated in the invasion. The aggressors’ hopes for a quick victory over the Soviet Union in the so-called “blitzkrieg” turned into four years of war on the eastern front. It was there that the backbone of the German military machine was broken and the war rolled back to where it had come from. The Soviet people, having suffered heavy losses at the beginning, turned the tide of war in the course of the epic Battle of Stalingrad (autumn of 1942 – winter of 1943). From then on the eastern front was moving only westwards.

After driving the invaders away from its territory, the Red Army subsequently liberated half of Europe from fascism. In May 1945, the ideas of global domination were buried in Berlin. For Europe, World War II ended with the signing of the act of capitulation of German troops. It happened just before midnight on May 8, according to Berlin time, while in Moscow it was already the early morning of May 9th. This day went down in our common history as Victory Day.

Eighty years later we must not forget that it was the Soviet Union and its Red Army that made the key contribution to the defeat of Nazism. Three quarters of the military potential of Nazi Germany and subjugated European countries were pitted against the USSR. At the same time, fascists’ losses on the Eastern Front amounted to 78 percent of their total casualties. It is worth recalling that our allies opened the “second front” in Normandy only in June 1944 – less than a year before the end of World War II.

The victory came at a high price. The Soviet Union lost 27 million of its sons and daughters. The majority of them were civilians who perished due to bombings, famine, and diseases. Millions of our citizens died in Nazi concentration camps. It is our common duty to remember all of these victims. That is the heavy price of the Great Victory over fascism. And this is why Victory Day is a sacred holiday for the Russians and other peoples of the former Soviet Union.

At the same time, we value the contribution of allies who fought along with us with a mutual goal of defeating Nazi Germany and its satellites. Unfortunately, the recent generation of Western elites deliberately forgets about our alliance and cooperation. Along with the great European tragedy, we should also remember the broad Asian expanse engulfed by World War II. We pay tribute to the resistance of the Chinese people, who played a great role in defeating the Japanese militarism — yet another ally of Nazi Germany. The colossal sacrifices they made for the sake of liberation have not been forgotten. Nowadays, we regret to see the persistent efforts to rewrite the history of World War II and to belittle the Soviet Union’s decisive contribution to the victory over fascism. Besides, attempts are made to rehabilitate Nazi collaborators. The underlying reasons are short historical memory and unlearned lessons of the past.

Related Topics:80th anniversary Great Nazism victory

Up Next

PAAET graduates hail Amir’s patronage as badge of pride, motivation for excellence

Don't Miss

5,148 grievances against revocation of citizenship filed

Click to comment

Latest News

KPC highlights sector strengths; Q8 wins awards at IDCE 2025

Published

1 hour ago

October 2, 2025

admin

MANAMA: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and its subsidiaries are showcasing the country’s oil sector achievements and global reach at the International Downstream Conference and Exhibition 2025 (IDCE 2025) in Bahrain. The three-day event, running through October 2, draws over 9,500 industry leaders from 53 countries.

The KPC pavilion highlights the accomplishments of its subsidiaries — Kuwait Oil International (Q8), Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC), and Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC) — in refining, marketing and integrating oil with petrochemicals. Interactive displays and advanced screens showcase how Kuwait’s energy sector is driving economic growth and strengthening its role on the global energy stage.

Q8 CEO Shafi Al-Ajmi described IDCE 2025 as “an important milestone in the journey of the refining industry.” Speaking to KUNA, he said the conference offered Kuwait an opportunity to enhance its presence regionally and internationally, forge strategic partnerships, and meet the evolving demands of global energy markets while supporting sustainable economic development.

Officials honor Kuwait Oil International (Q8), which won first place in the sustainability projects category, in addition to another award recognizing its excellence in project execution.

Al-Ajmi noted that the conference attracted more than 50 countries, around 70 global companies, and over 200 speakers, reflecting its evolution from a regional to a global platform. “This large and diverse participation highlights the success of the conference in bringing together top experts from around the world,” he said.

The Q8 delegation, led by Al-Ajmi, presented the company’s future projects and best practices aligned with KPC’s 2040 vision. The company also won two of seven awards at the official conference dinner, including first place in the sustainability projects category for an initiative focused on environmental cleanup and promoting positive social behavior. Another award recognized Q8’s project execution, marking the successful completion of a reliability test within eight months of start-up, demonstrating operational efficiency and adherence to global standards.

IDCE 2025, hosted by Aramco and led by the Gulf Downstream Association, features more than 290 expert speakers across 130 sessions covering innovation, decarbonization and the downstream value chain. IDCE 2025 represents the collective support of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and the UAE, and provides a premier platform to advance industry development and enable participation in over $100 billion of investment opportunities in refining, petrochemicals, and sustainability. — Agencies

Latest News

Kuwaiti Ambassador presents credentials to Saudi Crown Prince

Published

2 hours ago

October 2, 2025

admin

RIYADH: Kuwait’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sheikh Sabah Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, presented his credentials to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday, who received him on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

The ceremony took place at the Royal Court in Riyadh’s Al-Yamamah Palace, where the Crown Prince received a number of ambassadors from brotherly and friendly countries, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). During the reception, Crown Prince Mohammed welcomed the ambassadors, conveying the greetings of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and his own regards to the leaders of their respective countries.

He expressed his best wishes for their efforts to strengthen and develop bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia. The ambassadors, in turn, extended the greetings of their heads of state to the King and the Crown Prince, expressing gratitude for the warm and generous reception they received. — KUNA

Latest News

Deputy PM stresses cooperation amid Gaza crisis at summit

Published

3 hours ago

October 2, 2025

admin

AL-ULA, Saudi Arabia: Kuwait’s representative to the Munich Leaders Meeting, First Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, underlined the country’s commitment to regional dialogue and international cooperation during the high-level gathering in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia.

The three-day meeting, held at the Maraya Theater and running through Thursday, brought together senior decision-makers and global experts to discuss pressing issues including international trade, regional crises, energy transition, maritime security and nuclear safety. The conference comes days after US President Donald Trump unveiled a 20-point peace proposal for Gaza, aimed at ending the Zionist entity’s war on the Palestinian territory — a plan that enjoys wide international backing, including from Kuwait.

Speaking to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on the sidelines of the conference, Sheikh Fahad said Kuwait’s participation “confirms our keenness to support regional dialogue and strengthen international cooperation.” He highlighted discussions on urgent humanitarian issues in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, noting that “participants agreed that sustainable regional security cannot be achieved amid ongoing (Zionist entity) aggression.” He also warned of the consequences of escalating military conflicts, describing the attacks on Qatar and Gaza as “a blatant violation of international law and a direct threat to collective Gulf and regional security.”

Sheikh Fahad added that sessions addressed maritime security, energy safety, the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, as well as food and water security, economic challenges and shared security threats. He reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment, as the current chair of the Gulf Cooperation Council, to collective security, unifying Gulf positions, and enhancing regional and international partnerships.

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Al-Budaiwi praised Saudi Arabia for hosting the meeting, describing it as “an indication of the Kingdom’s pivotal role in promoting international security and supporting multilateral dialogue to address regional and global challenges.” He also thanked Saudi leadership and Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan for their “distinguished preparation and organization” of the event, which drew senior officials from across the globe.

The meeting aimed to provide a platform for exchanging perspectives on current regional and international security challenges, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and peaceful solutions in achieving just peace and sustainable development. Sheikh Fahad and the accompanying Kuwaiti delegation, including Ambassador Najeeb Al-Bader, Assistant Foreign Minister for GCC Affairs, departed Al-Ula on Wednesday after concluding their participation in the conference. — Agencies