ISTANBUL

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu exchanged congratulations Tuesday for the 80th anniversary of Victory Day.

The Kremlin said the exchange took place in a phone conversation where the “determination of the two countries to defend the truth about the events of World War II, to counter attempts to revise its results and falsify history was noted,” adding that the two leaders underlined the Red Army and the Soviet people’s contribution during the conflict.

“Various aspects of the situation in the Middle East and current issues of bilateral relations were also discussed,” it added.

Victory Day is celebrated May 9 in Russia and other countries, including some former Soviet states, to commemorate the Soviet Union’s victory against Nazi Germany during World War II -- a conflict Russia calls the Great Patriotic War.

Victory in Europe Day has been observed in Israel as a national holiday since 2017.​​​​​​​