On May 9, Moscow and the whole of Russia will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the victory in what is known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War. Some foreign guests are expected to join these solemn festivities.
Yet, nearly all heads of European states, including those liberated by the Soviet Army in 1944-1945, will probably not be among them.
On May 8, Russia's former allies in the anti-Hitler coalition and many other countries around the world celebrate the victory in World War II, or more exactly "V-E Day, that is, Victory in Europe Day."