MOSCOW

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed hope that someday Russia and Europe will restore their relations once again.

Speaking at the Knowledge. Pioneers Forum in Moscow, Putin said even now there are people in the West who share Russian values, some of them are currently fighting at Moscow's side in Ukraine.

"I have no doubt that sooner or later our relations with Europe will be restored. That's for sure," he stressed.

Even in today's challenging circumstances, there are those who possess the courage to articulate their stance on unfolding events and provide insightful assessments of occurrences during the Second World War, he said.

"And today, some citizens of the French Republic are fighting shoulder to shoulder with our soldiers in the 'special military operation' zone and named their unit Normandy-Neman, just like their grandfathers and great-grandfathers," he added.

Putin recounted the history of the legendary Normandie-Niemen Regiment, comprised of French patriots who, despite France's defeat in World War II, relocated to the Soviet Union and valiantly fought alongside Soviet soldiers against Nazi Germany.

Putin also explained why Russia recognized the actions of the Nazi Germany in the Soviet Union during World War II as "genocide."

According to him, it's not about searching for enemies in the past, but rather a method of communicating to the entire world the true nature of the events that occurred back then, because understanding these historical facts helps understand today's Russian position.

Putin also commented on the situation in Russia's Kursk region, the liberation of which he announced on Saturday, noting that although the opponent has mostly been driven out, scattered units continue hiding in "basements."

"We can hear what they are saying there -- they are asking for evacuation. But it is impossible to evacuate, because there are scattered groups of two or three people sitting somewhere in the woods, in some burrows, in complete isolation," he said.

Putin said some Ukrainian troops were captured and sent back to urge their fellow servicemen to lay down their weapons.