Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🇷🇺 On August 22, Russia celebrates National Flag Day, established by Presidential Executive Order On National Flag Day of the Russian Federation dated August 20, 1994.
#OTD, we pay tribute to the official state symbol of Russia, which, along with its emblem and anthem, marks its sovereignty and independence, and reaffirms the continuity of many generations of the country’s multiethnic people.
⚓️ The Russian tricolor is more than three centuries old. Peter the Great is considered the creator: in 1705, he issued an order according to which they should raise a white-blue-and-red flag “on all merchant ships.” However, it was only given official national flag status in 1896, on the eve of the coronation of Nicholas II.
On December 25, 2000, the Federal Constitutional Law On the State Flag of the Russian Federation was adopted, under which the state flag of Russia was a rectangular panel of three equal horizontal stripes: the top one was white, the middle one was blue and the bottom one was red.
⚪️🔵🔴 It is believed that white represents peace and dignity; blue, loyalty and honesty; and red, courage and valour.
Today, the tricolor has firmly become part of our lives as an integral element of Russian statehood, a symbol of the unity of the people, their devotion to the Fatherland, and their readiness to defend Russia’s national interests.
#OTD, we pay tribute to the official state symbol of Russia, which, along with its emblem and anthem, marks its sovereignty and independence, and reaffirms the continuity of many generations of the country’s multiethnic people.
⚓️ The Russian tricolor is more than three centuries old. Peter the Great is considered the creator: in 1705, he issued an order according to which they should raise a white-blue-and-red flag “on all merchant ships.” However, it was only given official national flag status in 1896, on the eve of the coronation of Nicholas II.
On December 25, 2000, the Federal Constitutional Law On the State Flag of the Russian Federation was adopted, under which the state flag of Russia was a rectangular panel of three equal horizontal stripes: the top one was white, the middle one was blue and the bottom one was red.
⚪️🔵🔴 It is believed that white represents peace and dignity; blue, loyalty and honesty; and red, courage and valour.
Today, the tricolor has firmly become part of our lives as an integral element of Russian statehood, a symbol of the unity of the people, their devotion to the Fatherland, and their readiness to defend Russia’s national interests.
Forwarded from Kremlin. News
Video address on National Flag Day
“We have special feelings for the white, blue and red flag; it is our official national flag, which was instituted as such by Peter the Great. The tricolour was hoisted over our country again on August 22, 1991. We have overcome many hardships and ordeals with this flag flying overhead, but in essence we have restored the sovereignty of our country. Russia is a one thousand year old country and civilization. Our national flag is a symbol of our unity. I believe that the national flag will always inspire us to move forward, to victory, and to assert the glory of Russia,” the President said in a congratulatory message.
#Congratulations
“We have special feelings for the white, blue and red flag; it is our official national flag, which was instituted as such by Peter the Great. The tricolour was hoisted over our country again on August 22, 1991. We have overcome many hardships and ordeals with this flag flying overhead, but in essence we have restored the sovereignty of our country. Russia is a one thousand year old country and civilization. Our national flag is a symbol of our unity. I believe that the national flag will always inspire us to move forward, to victory, and to assert the glory of Russia,” the President said in a congratulatory message.
#Congratulations
Forwarded from Kremlin. News
On August 22–24, Vladimir Putin will take part, via videoconference, in the 15th BRICS Summit that is being held under the Chairmanship of South Africa
See more on the Kremlin’s official website.
#Announcement
See more on the Kremlin’s official website.
#Announcement
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🇷🇺🇿🇦 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey #Lavrov arrives in South Africa.
📍 Johannesburg, August 22, 2023
#RussiaSouthAfrica
📹 Maria Zakharova
📍 Johannesburg, August 22, 2023
#RussiaSouthAfrica
📹 Maria Zakharova
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🇿🇦👋🇷🇺 South Africa welcomes Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
📍 Johannesburg, August 22, 2023
#RussiaSouthAfrica
📹 Maria Zakharova
📍 Johannesburg, August 22, 2023
#RussiaSouthAfrica
📹 Maria Zakharova
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎥 President Putin's video address on National Flag Day (August 22, 2023)
💬 Vladimir Putin: Compatriots!
Today we celebrate our National Flag Day.
Our state banners, like our country, have a thousand-year history. Old Russian armies raised flags with the image of Christ Not Made by Hand over their regiments. In the 19th century, the black, yellow and white flag of the Russian Empire was flown on the country’s official buildings. In the 20th century, our country lived with the red flag for over 70 years, and it was under this flag that the Great Patriotic War was won.
All of Russia’s historical flags and symbols warrant respect from its citizens, public activists, and representatives of the authorities because they reflect the continuity of the development of our nation and statehood.
But we certainly have special feelings for the white, blue and red flag; it is our official national flag, which was instituted as such by Peter the Great.
🇷🇺 The tricolour was hoisted over our country again on August 22, 1991. We have overcome many hardships and ordeals with this flag flying overhead, but in essence we have restored the sovereignty of our country.
Russia is a one thousand year old country and civilization. Our national flag is a symbol of our unity. I believe that the national flag will always inspire us to move forward, to victory, and to assert the glory of Russia.
Happy National Flag Day, friends!
💬 Vladimir Putin: Compatriots!
Today we celebrate our National Flag Day.
Our state banners, like our country, have a thousand-year history. Old Russian armies raised flags with the image of Christ Not Made by Hand over their regiments. In the 19th century, the black, yellow and white flag of the Russian Empire was flown on the country’s official buildings. In the 20th century, our country lived with the red flag for over 70 years, and it was under this flag that the Great Patriotic War was won.
All of Russia’s historical flags and symbols warrant respect from its citizens, public activists, and representatives of the authorities because they reflect the continuity of the development of our nation and statehood.
But we certainly have special feelings for the white, blue and red flag; it is our official national flag, which was instituted as such by Peter the Great.
🇷🇺 The tricolour was hoisted over our country again on August 22, 1991. We have overcome many hardships and ordeals with this flag flying overhead, but in essence we have restored the sovereignty of our country.
Russia is a one thousand year old country and civilization. Our national flag is a symbol of our unity. I believe that the national flag will always inspire us to move forward, to victory, and to assert the glory of Russia.
Happy National Flag Day, friends!
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s greetings to organisers and participants in the International Conference of Political Parties’ Youth Wings
💬 I welcome the organisers and participants in the International Conference of Political Parties’ Youth Wings, held as part of the Eurasia Global International Youth Forum in Orenburg.
Today, as the situation in the world has become greatly complicated due to the destructive policy of the collective West, there is great demand for efforts capable of making a useful contribution to the development of creative strategies of international development. In this context, an inter-party diplomacy, including its youth dimension, plays an increasingly important role.
I am pleased to note that Russian political organisations have established business contacts with numerous political parties abroad and a running dialogue is maintained with colleagues across the world. The broad range of participants in this Conference is an added confirmation of this fact.
Let me note in particular that your meeting is taking place ahead of the World Youth Festival scheduled to be held in Sochi in 2024. I hope that many of you will also attend this major international forum.
☝️ I am confident that your discussions will become an important factor in strengthening ties between nations.
I wish you productive work, new friendships, and all the best.
💬 I welcome the organisers and participants in the International Conference of Political Parties’ Youth Wings, held as part of the Eurasia Global International Youth Forum in Orenburg.
Today, as the situation in the world has become greatly complicated due to the destructive policy of the collective West, there is great demand for efforts capable of making a useful contribution to the development of creative strategies of international development. In this context, an inter-party diplomacy, including its youth dimension, plays an increasingly important role.
I am pleased to note that Russian political organisations have established business contacts with numerous political parties abroad and a running dialogue is maintained with colleagues across the world. The broad range of participants in this Conference is an added confirmation of this fact.
Let me note in particular that your meeting is taking place ahead of the World Youth Festival scheduled to be held in Sochi in 2024. I hope that many of you will also attend this major international forum.
☝️ I am confident that your discussions will become an important factor in strengthening ties between nations.
I wish you productive work, new friendships, and all the best.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
#Opinion by Maria Zakharova
💬 All hell seemed to break loose the instant Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, or the Grain Deal as the journalists labelled it.
Josep Borrell predicted a “major global food supply crisis”, while President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen described Russia’s refusal to extend the deal a “cynical step”. As for Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, she went as far as to refer to Russia’s withdrawal as an “act of cruelty”.
How ludicrous of them to talk about cruelty when they are the main arms suppliers to the conflict zone and when they engineered the government coup in Ukraine.
The International Monetary Fund’s chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said he expected grain prices to rise 15 percent, while his very organisation, the IMF, has been pouring its financial resources into the dying Ukrainian economy for nine years to keep the ugly parasites alive.
But what is the true situation?
In fact, the immediate response from the wheat market when Russia announced its decision to withdraw from this so-called deal on July 17 was a minor uptick in prices. However, the wheat futures price returned to its pre-announcement level in a matter of days, and even went down 1.13 percent to $261 per tonne.
As of August 21, 2023, the price of wheat stands at $253 per tonne, or $6.10 per bushel.
Global corn prices have followed a similar pattern. On July 17, 2023, its price dropped 1.51 percent to $199 per tonne, and this commodity currently trades at $188 per tonne or $4.83 per bushel.
True analysts, not politically biased IMF analysts, have been saying in their forecasts that there may be some minor volatility in grain prices in the mid-term due to several factors. However, the International Grains Council believes that grain production and trade are not currently affected by any global crises with global prices rapidly falling compared to the previous season. In fact, the price of wheat is down 35 percent, corn is 26 percent cheaper, and barley is down 41 percent.
By the way, Russia is expected to become one of the main wheat suppliers in the 2022/2023 agricultural year with exports of 45.5 million tonnes, while Ukraine could total just 14.5 million tonnes, falling behind Australia.
Analysts from the UK’s Economist Intelligence Unit confirmed this, saying that wheat production in Ukraine would amount to 22.5 million tonnes in the current agricultural year, down 32 percent compared to 2021/2022. In 2023/2024, this indicator will be equal to 19 million tonnes, while exports will fall to 10 million tonnes.
When it comes to agricultural exports, fertilisers, energy resources and other essential goods, our country continues to perform its obligations under international contracts responsibly and in good faith. We understand all too well that this has a major bearing on the social and economic development of countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as for the health, lives and wellbeing of their people.
President Vladimir Putin drove this message home with his initiatives to deliver tens of thousands of tonnes of Russian fertiliser that has been seized in European ports, and also grain to the countries that need them, by promising Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic and Eritrea between 25,000 and 50,000 tonnes of grain each.
💬 All hell seemed to break loose the instant Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, or the Grain Deal as the journalists labelled it.
Josep Borrell predicted a “major global food supply crisis”, while President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen described Russia’s refusal to extend the deal a “cynical step”. As for Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, she went as far as to refer to Russia’s withdrawal as an “act of cruelty”.
How ludicrous of them to talk about cruelty when they are the main arms suppliers to the conflict zone and when they engineered the government coup in Ukraine.
The International Monetary Fund’s chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said he expected grain prices to rise 15 percent, while his very organisation, the IMF, has been pouring its financial resources into the dying Ukrainian economy for nine years to keep the ugly parasites alive.
But what is the true situation?
In fact, the immediate response from the wheat market when Russia announced its decision to withdraw from this so-called deal on July 17 was a minor uptick in prices. However, the wheat futures price returned to its pre-announcement level in a matter of days, and even went down 1.13 percent to $261 per tonne.
As of August 21, 2023, the price of wheat stands at $253 per tonne, or $6.10 per bushel.
Global corn prices have followed a similar pattern. On July 17, 2023, its price dropped 1.51 percent to $199 per tonne, and this commodity currently trades at $188 per tonne or $4.83 per bushel.
True analysts, not politically biased IMF analysts, have been saying in their forecasts that there may be some minor volatility in grain prices in the mid-term due to several factors. However, the International Grains Council believes that grain production and trade are not currently affected by any global crises with global prices rapidly falling compared to the previous season. In fact, the price of wheat is down 35 percent, corn is 26 percent cheaper, and barley is down 41 percent.
By the way, Russia is expected to become one of the main wheat suppliers in the 2022/2023 agricultural year with exports of 45.5 million tonnes, while Ukraine could total just 14.5 million tonnes, falling behind Australia.
Analysts from the UK’s Economist Intelligence Unit confirmed this, saying that wheat production in Ukraine would amount to 22.5 million tonnes in the current agricultural year, down 32 percent compared to 2021/2022. In 2023/2024, this indicator will be equal to 19 million tonnes, while exports will fall to 10 million tonnes.
When it comes to agricultural exports, fertilisers, energy resources and other essential goods, our country continues to perform its obligations under international contracts responsibly and in good faith. We understand all too well that this has a major bearing on the social and economic development of countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as for the health, lives and wellbeing of their people.
President Vladimir Putin drove this message home with his initiatives to deliver tens of thousands of tonnes of Russian fertiliser that has been seized in European ports, and also grain to the countries that need them, by promising Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic and Eritrea between 25,000 and 50,000 tonnes of grain each.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
Forwarded from МИД России 🇷🇺
🔴 #ПрямойЭфир: Президент России В.В.Путин принимает участие в XV Саммите БРИКС в режиме видеоконференции.
🔗 https://www.ruptly.tv/ru/events/202308221000-live15298-zapis-putin-prinimaet-uchastie-v-15-m-sammite-briks-v-yuar
🔗 https://www.ruptly.tv/ru/events/202308221000-live15298-zapis-putin-prinimaet-uchastie-v-15-m-sammite-briks-v-yuar
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🔴 #LIVE: President Vladimir Putin takes part in the XV BRICS Summit via videoconference.
🔗 https://www.ruptly.tv/en/events/202308221000-live15298-zapis-putin-prinimaet-uchastie-v-15-m-sammite-briks-v-yuar
🔗 https://www.ruptly.tv/en/events/202308221000-live15298-zapis-putin-prinimaet-uchastie-v-15-m-sammite-briks-v-yuar
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
#FamilyPhoto
📸 Heads of delegations of the #BRICS member states 🇧🇷🇷🇺🇮🇳🇨🇳🇿🇦
📍 Johannesburg, August 22, 2023
📸 Heads of delegations of the #BRICS member states 🇧🇷🇷🇺🇮🇳🇨🇳🇿🇦
📍 Johannesburg, August 22, 2023
Forwarded from Kremlin. News
Vladimir Putin addressed the BRICS Business Forum via videoconference
“Our cooperation is based on the principles of equality, partner support, and respect for each other's interests. And that is what lies at the core of our Association's forward-looking strategic course – the course that reflects the aspirations of most of the world’s community, the so-called global majority,” the Russian President said.
The BRICS Business Forum is traditionally held prior to the BRICS Summit, which is being held in Johannesburg (South Africa) on August 22-24. The Russian President will take part in the meeting of the five leaders via videoconference.
See more on the Kremlin’s official website.
“Our cooperation is based on the principles of equality, partner support, and respect for each other's interests. And that is what lies at the core of our Association's forward-looking strategic course – the course that reflects the aspirations of most of the world’s community, the so-called global majority,” the Russian President said.
The BRICS Business Forum is traditionally held prior to the BRICS Summit, which is being held in Johannesburg (South Africa) on August 22-24. The Russian President will take part in the meeting of the five leaders via videoconference.
See more on the Kremlin’s official website.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🗓 The Battle of Kursk, one of the greatest military engagements in human history, ended on August 23, 1943, 80 years ago. In total, the battle involved over 4 million people, over 69,000 guns and mortars, more than 13,000 tanks and self-propelled guns, and nearly 12,000 aircraft.
⚔️ The 50-day Battle of Kursk included a defensive operation (July 5-23) and a number of offensive operations (July 12-August 23) in the area of the Kursk Salient (Kursk Bulge) that formed in the centre of the Soviet-German front in the spring of 1943. The battle was aimed at breaking up a major German offensive and routing the enemy’s strategic grouping.
The battle began with a German offensive, but after a week of stubborn defence, the Red Army managed to stop the enemy push. On July 12, a major tank battle involving a total of 1,200 Soviet and German tanks and assault guns took place near the village of Prokhorovka in the Belgorod Region. The German tank force lost nearly 10,000 men and over 360 tanks, with the enemy definitively cut off from the city of Kursk. On the same day, the Soviet forces launched a counter-offensive, liberating the cities of Oryol and Belgorod. The Battle of the Kursk Bulge culminated in the liberation of Kharkov on August 23, after which the Red Army launched the fighting to liberate Ukraine.
🎖 The Soviet participants in the Battle of Kursk displayed courage, tenacity, and mass heroism: over 100,000 people were awarded orders and medals; 231 people were honoured with the title of Hero of the Soviet Union; 132 formations and units were added to the Guards category; and 26 units received the designations of Oryol, Belgorod, Kharkov and Karachev in honour of the cities they had liberated. The Kursk Bulge memorial to the heroic victory of the Soviet soldiers was erected in Kursk.
⚔️ The 50-day Battle of Kursk included a defensive operation (July 5-23) and a number of offensive operations (July 12-August 23) in the area of the Kursk Salient (Kursk Bulge) that formed in the centre of the Soviet-German front in the spring of 1943. The battle was aimed at breaking up a major German offensive and routing the enemy’s strategic grouping.
The battle began with a German offensive, but after a week of stubborn defence, the Red Army managed to stop the enemy push. On July 12, a major tank battle involving a total of 1,200 Soviet and German tanks and assault guns took place near the village of Prokhorovka in the Belgorod Region. The German tank force lost nearly 10,000 men and over 360 tanks, with the enemy definitively cut off from the city of Kursk. On the same day, the Soviet forces launched a counter-offensive, liberating the cities of Oryol and Belgorod. The Battle of the Kursk Bulge culminated in the liberation of Kharkov on August 23, after which the Red Army launched the fighting to liberate Ukraine.
🎖 The Soviet participants in the Battle of Kursk displayed courage, tenacity, and mass heroism: over 100,000 people were awarded orders and medals; 231 people were honoured with the title of Hero of the Soviet Union; 132 formations and units were added to the Guards category; and 26 units received the designations of Oryol, Belgorod, Kharkov and Karachev in honour of the cities they had liberated. The Kursk Bulge memorial to the heroic victory of the Soviet soldiers was erected in Kursk.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
📆 On August 23, 1942, the German Nazi invaders subjected Stalingrad to massive aerial bombardment for the first time. This unprecedentedly powerful and cruel attack destroyed almost half of the city but did not break the spirit of its heroic defenders.
Luftwaffe pilots made up to 2,000 sorties in a single day. The carpet-bombing was intended to erase the city from the face of the Earth, barbarically destroying the Palace of Sports, the city library, schools, universities and hundreds of residential buildings. Spilled oil burned on the surface of the Volga River.
✍️ Excerpt from the memoirs of Marshal of the Soviet Union Andrey Yeryomenko: “During the bombing, pillars of fire and smoke soared upwards in different places without interruption. Immense columns of flame rose to the skies near oil depots. Streams of burning oil and gasoline rushed into the Volga River. <...> The screech of bombs flying from above mixed with the roar of explosions, the grinding and clanging of collapsing buildings and the crackling of the raging inferno. The dying moaned; women and children wept hysterically, calling for help.”
🕯 By the evening, most of Stalingrad lay in ruins. From 40,000 to 90,000 people were killed and about 50,000 wounded in a single day.
Despite the scale of destruction, the Nazi invaders failed to break the resistance of the defenders of Stalingrad. The heroic defence of the city lasted for several months and went down in history as a symbol of the courage and unbending will of Soviet soldiers. The Battle of Stalingrad ended in February 1943 with the rout of the Wehrmacht’s elite forces and marked a turning point in the history of the Great Patriotic War.
#Victory78 #WeRemember
Luftwaffe pilots made up to 2,000 sorties in a single day. The carpet-bombing was intended to erase the city from the face of the Earth, barbarically destroying the Palace of Sports, the city library, schools, universities and hundreds of residential buildings. Spilled oil burned on the surface of the Volga River.
✍️ Excerpt from the memoirs of Marshal of the Soviet Union Andrey Yeryomenko: “During the bombing, pillars of fire and smoke soared upwards in different places without interruption. Immense columns of flame rose to the skies near oil depots. Streams of burning oil and gasoline rushed into the Volga River. <...> The screech of bombs flying from above mixed with the roar of explosions, the grinding and clanging of collapsing buildings and the crackling of the raging inferno. The dying moaned; women and children wept hysterically, calling for help.”
🕯 By the evening, most of Stalingrad lay in ruins. From 40,000 to 90,000 people were killed and about 50,000 wounded in a single day.
Despite the scale of destruction, the Nazi invaders failed to break the resistance of the defenders of Stalingrad. The heroic defence of the city lasted for several months and went down in history as a symbol of the courage and unbending will of Soviet soldiers. The Battle of Stalingrad ended in February 1943 with the rout of the Wehrmacht’s elite forces and marked a turning point in the history of the Great Patriotic War.
#Victory78 #WeRemember
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
📸 #PhotoOfTheDay
🇧🇷🇷🇺🇮🇳🇨🇳🇿🇦 Heads of the BRICS nations' delegations show the BRICS spirit during the traditional photo ceremony 🤝
📍 Johannesburg, August 23, 2023
🇧🇷🇷🇺🇮🇳🇨🇳🇿🇦 Heads of the BRICS nations' delegations show the BRICS spirit during the traditional photo ceremony 🤝
📍 Johannesburg, August 23, 2023
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
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✍️ #OTD 84 years ago, Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Nonaggression Pact in Moscow.
Signing the pact was a forced step for the USSR. The Soviet leadership made this difficult decision after taking account of the extremely unfavourable geopolitical situation that had emerged in Europe by August 1939.
👉 First, it was evident to everyone at that time that a large-scale conflict was inevitable. Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933 and embarked on a policy designed to militarise the country and expand the German Lebensraum (living space) by occupying Eastern Europe.
👉Second, the Western countries were openly condoning Hitler’s predatory plans because it was a pet idea of theirs to channel the Third Reich’s aggression to the East. Their appeasement policy enabled Germany to carry out the Anschluss of Austria in March 1938 and to partition Czechoslovakia in a most cruel and cynical manner later in September.
The Soviet leadership did its utmost to create an anti-Hitler coalition.
However, its attempt to form a tripartite military alliance against Hitler with Britain and France failed to gain traction. Moreover, Poland refused to allow the Red Army to cross its territory in the event of German aggression.
👉 Moscow had to take the Japanese factor into consideration as well, with Japan launching hostilities in the Khalkhin Gol area in May 1938 and the persisting tensions in the relations between the USSR and Japan. A war on two fronts – in the East and the West – was out of the question for the USSR.
The Soviet Union was the last major European power to sign a nonaggression pact with Germany. This document made it possible for the Soviet Union to delay the outbreak of the war for two more years, enabling it to make better preparations for a clash with the world’s most powerful army.
❗️The dramatic events of 1938 and 1939 are graphic evidence of the fact that no one can ensure their security at the expense of the security of others.
Signing the pact was a forced step for the USSR. The Soviet leadership made this difficult decision after taking account of the extremely unfavourable geopolitical situation that had emerged in Europe by August 1939.
👉 First, it was evident to everyone at that time that a large-scale conflict was inevitable. Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933 and embarked on a policy designed to militarise the country and expand the German Lebensraum (living space) by occupying Eastern Europe.
👉Second, the Western countries were openly condoning Hitler’s predatory plans because it was a pet idea of theirs to channel the Third Reich’s aggression to the East. Their appeasement policy enabled Germany to carry out the Anschluss of Austria in March 1938 and to partition Czechoslovakia in a most cruel and cynical manner later in September.
The Soviet leadership did its utmost to create an anti-Hitler coalition.
However, its attempt to form a tripartite military alliance against Hitler with Britain and France failed to gain traction. Moreover, Poland refused to allow the Red Army to cross its territory in the event of German aggression.
👉 Moscow had to take the Japanese factor into consideration as well, with Japan launching hostilities in the Khalkhin Gol area in May 1938 and the persisting tensions in the relations between the USSR and Japan. A war on two fronts – in the East and the West – was out of the question for the USSR.
The Soviet Union was the last major European power to sign a nonaggression pact with Germany. This document made it possible for the Soviet Union to delay the outbreak of the war for two more years, enabling it to make better preparations for a clash with the world’s most powerful army.
❗️The dramatic events of 1938 and 1939 are graphic evidence of the fact that no one can ensure their security at the expense of the security of others.