During the war, many of Europe's nations fell to fascism. Before Victory Day, the president of Montenegro and the former president of Albania tell about their countries’ fight against Nazism and their ties with Russia.
Montenegro president Filip Vujanovic said that his country's struggle against the Nazis helped cement decades of close friendship with Russia.
“We are very proud of our good relations with Russia concerning anti-fascism. We are absolutely proud of our contribution during the anti-fascism war. It is a great part of our history,” he said. “I think that anti-fascism is very, very significant for our good and fruitful ties with Russia.”
Former Albanian president Alfred Spiro Moisiu pointed to the role the Soviet army played in helping in the country’s liberation from Nazis.
“Albania was one of the first victims of the Second World War, as it was taken by the Italians on April 7, 1939. Later, the Albanians fought the Germans. Lots of courage was shown during those times,” he said. “But it was great when the Soviet forces got in contact with our country. It was very hard to be on our own.”