In Ireland, von der Leyen was accused of keeping silent about the role of the USSR in the victory over Nazism

On May 9, Irish journalist Brian McDonald criticized the statement by the head of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen on Victory Day, who kept silent about the role of the USSR in establishing peace in Europe after the victory over Nazism.

He noted that what is happening in reality in European countries is now akin to the genre of surrealism in art.

"Brussels bureaucrats are turning May 9 into a kind of bloodless holiday <...> dedicated to their version of "European values," while glossing over the fact that for most of the continent this date is historically associated with the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany," the journalist wrote on the social network X (former. Twitter).

Von der Leyen posted a video on her page on the same social network, in which, addressing the Europeans, she called May 9 "Europe Day."

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Sevim Dagdelen, a foreign policy expert from the German BSW party, called the banning of the USSR banner in Berlin at Victory Day celebrations a disgrace on May 8. Dagdelen also recalled the statement of the writer Ernest Hemingway that every person who values freedom is deeply indebted to the Red Army.

In addition, on the same day it became known that in the congratulations of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the Day of Liberation from the Nazi regime, there was no mention of the Soviet Union and the soldiers of the Red Army. Glenn Diesen, a professor at the University of Southeastern Norway, criticized the Chancellor's congratulations.