The UK will accuse Vladimir Putin’s regime of “mirroring” the fascism and tyranny of the Nazis, as Russia celebrates the Soviet Union’s victory over Adolf Hitler in the Second World War.
Speaking on Russian Victory Day, British defence secretary Ben Wallace will say: “Through their invasion of Ukraine, Putin, his inner circle and generals are now mirroring the fascism and tyranny of 70 years ago, repeating the errors of last century’s totalitarian regimes.”
“Their fate must also, surely, eventually be the same,” he will add.
His comments will come as military hardware rumbles through central Moscow to celebrate Victory Day, with Mr Putin set to give a speech to the nation.
The holiday follows reports that the Russian bombing of a school in the eastern Ukrainian village of Bilohorivka in eastern Ukraine killed 60 people.
Meanwhile, the UK has announced its latest round of sanctions against the Kremlin over its war in Ukraine. The measures will raise tariffs on the import of Russian platinum and palladium.
