
Putin discusses French squadron fighting for Russia, WWII victory and ties with EU (KEY QUOTES)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has delivered a lengthy speech at the Znanie.First educational marathon in Moscow on Wednesday, offering blunt assessments on historical memory, current military operations, and geopolitical tensions. He said that Russia made the greatest contribution to victory in World War II, predicted a future thaw in relations with Europe, revealed that French citizens are fighting for Russia in Ukraine, and commented on the military situation in Kursk Region.
Here are the key take aways from his remarks:
Putin stated that French nationals are currently taking part in the Ukraine conflict on the Russian side, referencing a historical WWII unit, the 'Normandie-Niemen' squadron, composed of French pilots who fought alongside the Soviet Air Force. He did not provide figures or further details.
'There have always been people in France who share Russia's values. Such people still exist today.'
'Some citizens of the French Republic are fighting shoulder to shoulder with our soldiers in the area of the special military operation. They named their unit as their grandfathers and great-grandfathers did – 'Normandie-Niemen'.'
The Russian president expressed confidence that the strained ties between Russia and European countries would eventually be repaired.
'Sooner or later, relations between Russia and Europe will be restored. This is beyond doubt.'
Putin pointed out that support for Russia's stance exists across Europe, though often unspoken due to social or political pressure. He suggested that only a few individuals dare to express this alignment publicly.
'In Europe, there are many people who share our position. Some remain silent; few have the audacity to voice their opinion.'Putin emphasized the sacrifices made by the all republics of the Soviet Union, particularly Russia, which was a part of the USSR back then, in securing victory in the Second World War.
'The Russian Federation, due to its scale, of course made the greatest contribution to this victory. It gave the most – its sons and daughters who died defending the motherland and our common future.'
'For victory, no one spared themselves.'
Putin described the Ukrainian forces in the area as fragmented and cut off, hiding in 'holes' and 'basements' with no way to retreat. He said Russia had cleared most of the region but that remnants of the opposing side were being offered a chance to surrender.
'Yes, we drove [the Ukrainian Armed Forces] out of the Kursk Region,' Putin said.
'They're still sitting in cracks and basements somewhere.'
He added that evacuation was impossible due to the dispersed nature of these units, despite Ukrainian appeals. Putin also supported the idea of creating a memorial in the region to honor Russian volunteers who participated in the fighting.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Russia Today
an hour ago
- Russia Today
Russian envoy shares details of Trump meeting
Russia's new ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, said he held a brief but 'very constructive' meeting with President Donald Trump on Wednesday, after formally presenting his credentials at the White House. Trump held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4 – their fourth conversation since Trump returned to the White House. 'We agreed on the need to restore ties in accordance with the instructions issued by Presidents Putin and Trump during their phone conversation,' Darchiev told RIA Novosti at the Russian Embassy following the meeting. 'I assured the president that, in line with the directives I received, I will do everything possible to help restore Russian-US relations and return them to a state of normalcy and common sense,' he added. 'A window of opportunity has opened to rebuild relations on the basis of mutual trust and equality,' the envoy said. 'Russia and the United States are destined, as great powers, to have a non-confrontational and peaceful coexistence.'Darchiev noted that the two sides are discussing business initiatives and the resumption of direct flights. He earlier told TASS that the embassy would work toward lifting what he called 'absurd' restrictions on Russian diplomatic activity in the US, as well as simplifying visa procedures. Under former President Joe Biden, the US severed nearly all direct contact with Russia in 2022 over the conflict in Ukraine and imposed sweeping sanctions on Russian officials and businesses. Trump has criticized his predecessor for sidelining diplomacy and pledged to broker a peace deal between Moscow and Kiev. While Moscow has praised Trump and his team for their shift in rhetoric and willingness to engage, no breakthrough has been achieved. Trump has threatened to impose additional measures on Russia if a ceasefire is not reached, but he has not endorsed the sanctions bill currently under consideration in the Senate.


Russia Today
4 hours ago
- Russia Today
Ukrainian vet behind Dutch knife spree wanted life sentence
A Ukrainian national who faces multiple attempted murder charges after a stabbing spree in Amsterdam has been identified as a military deserter who reportedly dreamed of spending the rest of his life in a Western European prison, according to a Dutch media investigation. The suspect, who is accused of injuring five people near Dam Square in March, was identified as 30-year-old Roman D. The Dutch public prosecutor suggested earlier this month that the attack could have had a terrorist motive. Public broadcaster NOS revealed the Ukrainian national's background on Tuesday following an investigation by its current affairs program, Nieuwsuur. According to the report, Roman D. served in a Ukrainian artillery unit before the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022. Acquaintances said he became increasingly withdrawn after suffering a concussion in 2023 and spoke of wanting to be jailed for life in a Western European country. 'He often said that he wanted to kill someone in Norway so that he could go to a prison there and be cared for for the rest of his life,' a former commander told NOS. The remarks were reportedly dismissed as jokes at the time. When I first heard what Roman had done in Amsterdam, I thought: 'an idiot's dream has come true.' Roman reportedly left Ukraine using a travel waiver issued for a visit to his mother in the Czech Republic. She told NOS, however, that he never arrived – instead, he apparently traveled directly to the Netherlands. He remained in contact with former fellow soldiers, who described him as being interested in a wide range of ideologies. '[He] wrote about Allah and something about supporting Palestine. Surprisingly enough, he was also very active in supporting the LGBT community,' one source told the broadcaster. NOS also found that Roman's online presence suggested an association with neo-Nazism, though friends claimed his interest wasn't in earnest. Officials in Eastern European countries, including Poland and the Czech Republic, have expressed concerns over the potential influx of demobilized Ukrainian soldiers once Kiev lifts martial law and allows fighting-age men to leave the country. Veterans 'can face a number of different problems: Adaptation issues, psychosis, depression, addictions,' Polish military psychiatrist Radoslaw Tworus warned in February. 'The spectrum of these disorders is very wide.'


Russia Today
6 hours ago
- Russia Today
Russia has world's most advanced nuclear weapons
Russia possesses the most cutting-edge nuclear weapons in the world, guaranteeing the country's sovereignty and the global balance of power, President Vladimir Putin has said. Addressing a government meeting on the national armament program on Wednesday, he urged 'special attention' to be paid to the continued development of the nation's nuclear triad. Nuclear triad is a term used to describe the combination of land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles and strategic bombers, which can carry nuclear payloads. These weapons systems ensure that a nation's nuclear forces cannot be destroyed in a first-strike disarming attack. 'Now, the share of the state-of-the-art weapon systems and equipment in our strategic nuclear forces comes to 95%,' the president told the meeting, adding that Russia is making 'good progress' in this regard. 'That is the highest level among all of the world's nuclear powers,' Putin stated. A similar assessment was articulated by Air Force General Anthony Cotton, commander of the US Strategic Command. 'Russia is currently in possession of the largest and most diverse nuclear arsenal of any nation,' Cotton said in March 2024, warning that Moscow's capabilities exceed those of the US. Russia has significantly upgraded its nuclear arsenal in recent years. The Sarmat ICBM was approved for combat duty in September 2023. One of Russia's most capable nuclear weapons, the Sarmat has an estimated range of 11,000 miles (about 18,000km), with a payload of around ten tons. Moscow should not focus only on nuclear weapons, however, according to Putin. The government should develop a new long-term armament program focused on various types of the most advanced weapon systems and based on the experience gained during the Ukraine conflict, he said. Both Moscow and Kiev have heavily relied on drones in the ongoing conflict. The Times reported in May that Russia is beating Ukraine in 'the drone race' both in terms of development and battlefield use. In particular, the newspaper pointed to Russia's fiber optic drones, which are 'altering the physical make-up of the front line, the tactics of the war and the psychology of the soldiers fighting it.'