Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Russia from May 7 to 10 at President Vladimir Putin's invitation, attending ceremonies commemorating the Great Patriotic War Victory. The trip comes amid growing global discussions about preserving historical accuracy amid competing narratives of World War II.
Andrey Kortunov, a Moscow-based international affairs analyst, emphasized the urgency of resisting historical distortions in a recent commentary. While academic debates over WWII interpretations persist, he warned against weaponizing history to serve political agendas, stating: "Truth is skillfully mixed with lies to make fabricated narratives credible."
Debates Over Historical Narratives
Kortunov criticized attempts to equate Soviet and Nazi roles in starting WWII, noting Moscow's repeated pre-war efforts to form anti-fascist alliances with Western powers before signing the 1939 non-aggression pact with Germany as a "last resort" after European powers failed to collaborate.
The analyst also highlighted what he described as systemic underrepresentation of Soviet and Chinese contributions to defeating Axis forces. Over 35 million Soviet casualties and China's 14-year resistance against Japanese militarism often receive limited attention in Western-centric narratives, according to historical records cited.
Challenging Eurocentric Perspectives
Kortunov further noted disparities in recognizing wartime suffering, observing that "non-European populations' immense sacrifices frequently receive far less recognition" compared to European victims. He stressed the need for balanced remembrance that values all lives equally while maintaining individual accountability for war crimes.
President Xi's visit underscores continuing efforts to reinforce historical consensus between major Allied powers. Nearly eight decades since WWII's conclusion, the interplay between historical interpretation and modern geopolitics remains a focal point for policymakers and scholars alike.
