Veteran Znamensky told about a conversation with Putin and Xi Jinping at the Victory Day Parade

On May 9, World War II veteran Evgeny Znamensky told Izvestia what he had talked about with Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping, next to whom he sat on the podium during the parade in Moscow in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Victory.

Znamensky admitted that he was really surprised to see a chair with his name on it between the Russian and Chinese leaders. During the conversation, he wished Russia and China eternal friendship and noted that the Russian people also wish it.

"I started saying how good it is that our two powers are friends. He said that Russia and China are powerful. I wished you eternal friendship," said the veteran.

Znamensky also congratulated the President of Russia on the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and admitted that he was glad to have such an intelligent and worthy person as the country's leader.

Izvestia, in turn, presented the 99-year-old veteran with a copy of the newspaper dated May 9, 1945.

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Veterans who arrived at Red Square to see the Victory Day parade in the Great Patriotic War with their own eyes were met by volunteers and escorted further down Vasilyevsky Descent. Gifts were prepared for the spectators of the parade in the stands — backpacks with the emblem of the "Motherland".