Russian envoy stirs controversy attending WWII event in Germany

Russia's ambassador to Germany pressed ahead on Friday with his controversial attendance at celebrations in the eastern town of Torgau to mark 80 years since US and Soviet soldiers famously shook hands at the Elbe River on April 25, 1945, reported dpa.

"Today we must remember the fallen soldiers," Sergey Nechayev said in German at the event, surrounded by journalists and citizens. "The day is therefore very important for us."

His participation had previously been disputed because of Moscow's continuing military attack on Ukraine.

Shortly beforehand, Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev had called for the Russian to be barred from the event.

Asked what he thought about him not being welcome, Nechayev said: "I don't feel it, I feel comfortable."

"We have the opportunity to make our position known," the diplomat added about his being denied the right to speak at the wreath-laying ceremony.

Saxony's Premier Michael Kretschmer addressed the ambassador in Torgau with clear words on the war in Ukraine.

"It was Russia that started a war against Ukraine in violation of international law. Not in [2022], but back in 2014. And it is up to Russia, only Russia, to end this war," Kretschmer said in the direction of Nechayev, who received a few boos from the crowd.

The ambassador spoke to some of the people attending, his lapel adorned with the St George black and orange ribbon.

Traditionally considered a symbol of remembrance of the Soviet-German war, the ribbon has been criticized as a Russian propaganda symbol since Moscow first intervened militarily in Ukraine 11 years ago, culminating in the full-scale invasion of February 2022.

The Saxon premier also acknowledged the huge Soviet losses - while reminding that the final victory in the east was not that of the Russians' alone.

"It is also a historical reality that there were many people from the Red Army, 12 million Red Army soldiers, who lost their lives in World War II," said Kretschmer.

Among them were many Russians, but also Ukrainians, Belarusians and Georgians. "It would be nicer, more appropriate, if representatives from Ukraine, Georgia or Belarus were also with us," he added.

"The fact that they didn't come is probably connected with the presence of our Russian colleague."

Last week, the Russian ambassador also appeared at a memorial on the Seelow Heights east of Berlin, where the largest battle of World War II on German territory took place.

The event sparked controversy after Germany's Foreign Office issued a handout advising against inviting Russian representatives to commemorations by the federal, state and local governments.

The German parliament has decided to exclude Russia and Belarus from the main commemorative event marking the end of World War II in Berlin on May 8.

(By Birgit Zimmermann and Verena Schmitt-Roschmann)