(VOVworld) – World leaders sent their congratulations to Russia on Saturday on its 70th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.

At the celebrations in Russia, Poland, Ukraine, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon underscored the great significance of the victory against fascism and called on joint efforts to prevent and peacefully resolve conflicts. Ban said the World War II always reminds people around the world of how tragic war can be.

Military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945. (Photo: en.kremlin.ru)

Celeste Wallander, President Barack Obama's top adviser on Russia, visited the Russian Embassy in the US and extended her congratulations while attending a military parade. She said the US always remembers the sacrifice of the Americans and former Soviet Union people in the World War II.

At a ceremony in Brasilia, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff expressed her sincere thank to the expeditionary forces who fight fascism and those who fell for global peace.

World leaders and historians said the former Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War changed the shape of the World War II and encouraged its allies fighting fascism on the second front, notably seen in the Normandy landings.