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You have conveniently forgotten Belarus where the losses were almost 50%. However, your point is valid. The role of Ukraine and other peoples of the former USSR in the defeat of Hitler is so great it cannot be overestimated. There is some little "but" though. How about the role of Ukraine (along with Georgia as the birthplace of Stalin and Beria) in "occupation" of the Baltic states now everybody wants Russia and only Russia to apologize for? Were there not ethnic Ukrainians and other peoples in the Soviet troops which entered the Baltic republics in 1945? I hope you will not claim there were only native Russians? By the way, in 1990 there were over 3 million members of the communist party of Ukraine, among 18 millions of party members in the whole USSR. How about their responsibility for Stalin's and USSR's crimes?

My point is that either Russia or Ukraine or Baltic states or Georgia cannot have all of it. All these peoples lived in the same state called Russian empire for centuries and all those people played their role in Bolshevik's coming to power and in the crimes committed by Communists and should share the responsibility. And yes, millions of people of all nationalities of the USSR were victims of the WWII and the ultimate victors. I find it outrageous that celebrations of this great day have turned out ugly but again it is not Russia or at least not only Russia who should be blamed here. And as far as the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact is concerned, it was condemned by the Parliament of the country that signed it: the USSR. If we want to start condemning it again it should be condemned by all ex-members of the USSR, Ukraine included, and not by Russia alone.

"And as far as the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact is concerned, it was condemned by the Parliament of the country that signed it: the USSR. If we want to start condemning it again it should be condemned by all ex-members of the USSR, Ukraine included, and not by Russia alone."

Just when you thought you have heard every conceivable spin to make the Kremlin warm and fuzzy, along comes a new one.

Russianboorman, you are a true craftsman at your art.