The President's telegram reads, in particular:

"On this memorable day for the peoples of our countries we bow our heads before those who endured great trials and tribulations during the years of our common struggle against Nazism, sparing neither their own strength nor lives to forge the Great Victory that we share."

"The grateful memory of our peoples' achievements, both on the battlefields and the home front, will always live on in the hearts of all people of goodwill. Standing shoulder to shoulder in a most difficult struggle our peoples vanquished the Nazi aggressors and defended the freedom and happiness of future generations."

"It is the duty of today's generation to preserve and safeguard our common history."

Mr Putin also asked his fellow heads of state to pass on his sincere wishes of health, long life and prosperity to World War II veterans, and of peace and prosperity to the peoples of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.

/www.kremlin.ru/