'Russia will never forget Allied support in WW2'

The Russian President said Moscow "will always remember" the support of US and European allies in defeating Nazism.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow "will always remember" the support of the United States and European allies in defeating Nazism, in a keynote address on Moscow's Red Square Monday.

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He made the pledge at a grand military parade attended by over 50 world leaders to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II.

"We have never distinguished our victory from those of the others," said Putin, who has defended Moscow's view of history against critics who have highlighted the Soviet occupation of central and Eastern Europe, which followed.

"We will always remember the support of the allies, the United States, Great Britain, France and other countries of the anti-Hitler coalition," he added.

Putin spoke near the start of the Moscow parade, before returning to his seat next to US President George W. Bush overlooking the display on the famous square, flanked by the Kremlin and the onion domes of St Basil's Cathedral.