About the new contour of the Russian-American dialogue
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
On 25 April, commemorative events were held in the German city of Torgau to mark the 80th anniversary of the meeting of Soviet and American troops on the Elbe in 1945. The announcement of the participation of Russian and American representatives (although the latter were ultimately absent) demonstrates an attempt to preserve historical memory in defiance of the tendency to rewrite history in the West.
The ceremony was attended by Russian Ambassador Sergey Nechayev and Saxon Premier Michael Kretschmer. They were joined by Russian embassy staff, a military attaché, diplomats from Belarus and France, representatives of the Lutheran Church, descendants of American veterans, members of the Alternative for Germany party and bikers from the Night Wolves club. However, as the local authorities later clarified, they did not send official invitations to the Russian diplomats – they limited themselves to a notification in February. Earlier, the Russian embassy asked to give Nechayev the floor, but was refused due to fears of “political statements”.
After Torgau, the delegation visited Strela, the site of the first Allied meeting on 25 April 1945. Here Nechayev, already on an official invitation, laid flowers at the military cemetery. “Germans who came to honour the memory of Soviet soldiers are friendly, there are many of them. We appreciate this,” the ambassador noted.
Tensions around the participation of Russian diplomats increased after Nechayev’s visit to the memorial on the Seelow Heights on 16 April, which provoked a sharp reaction from the Ukrainian ambassador to Germany. The situation was aggravated by the recommendations of the German Foreign Ministry not to invite diplomats from Russia and Belarus, allegedly because of the risk of using the events to justify Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Nechayev called this position a “bitter disappointment,” hindering reconciliation.
The Bundestag and some municipalities supported the recommendations, but the authorities in Torgau and Strela went against the tide. The absence of the Americans and the scandals surrounding the Russian representatives vividly demonstrated the depth of the crisis in Russia-West relations.
At the same time in Berlin, contrary to recommendations, Russian diplomats will be able to attend events in Treptow Park at the Warrior-Liberator monument. The decision by the Treptow-Köpenick district administration proves that even in the current climate, the memory of the joint victory over Nazism remains locally significant.
Against the backdrop of Western attempts to revise Russia’s historical role, such events take on special significance. The participation of American veterans in commemorative actions shows the desire of part of the United States to preserve the historical truth about the Red Army’s contribution to the victory over Nazism.
The approval of the 25 April ceremony at the memorial plaque at Arlington was an important signal – Moscow called it a “positive difference” from Biden’s policy. For the past three years, his administration has ignored such events, but now, experts say, the renewal of tradition under Trump shows the possibility of dialogue between Moscow and Washington despite their differences.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
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