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70th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany

Ambassador says US remembers that Soviet people suffered most of all during WWII

Ahead of the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of Victory, the US diplomat congratulated all the veterans and those who have seen the horror of the war

US Ambassador to Russia John Tefft (left) and WWII veteran Vladimir Kuts (right) Mikhail Pochuyev/TASS

US Ambassador to Russia John Tefft (left) and WWII veteran Vladimir Kuts (right)

© Mikhail Pochuyev/TASS

MOSCOW, May 7. /TASS/. The United States remembers that the people of the Soviet Union suffered more than any other nations during World War II, US Ambassador to Russia John Tefft said on Thursday answering questions on Facebook.

"The American people treats with great respect the sufferings of the Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War," Tefft said.

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Lavrov: Russia, Germany to do their utmost to prevent repetition of war

The diplomat also recalled the words of late US president John Kennedy that no nation had "ever suffered more than the Soviet Union in the Second World War."

"I’m proud that the members of my own family participated in the fight against Nazism: both my father and my father-in-law fought in Europe during World War II," he added.

Ahead of the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of Victory, the US diplomat congratulated all the veterans and those who have seen the horror of the war.

Earlier this week, Tefft said in his LiveJournal blog that nobody calls in question the Soviet Union’s key role in World War II. "No one calls in question the fact the Soviet Union, which held firm through a devastating invasion and terrible occupation, bore the brunt of World War II in terms of human and material losses," he said.

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World War II 70th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan