Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has told his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu that Russia would soon build a museum dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust. Netanyahu in response said Israel would erect a memorial dedicated to the efforts of the Soviet Army in liberating Europe during World War II. Netanyahu said the gesture, which he intends to move forward, was in honor of the 65th anniversary of the victory over the Nazis later this year. "No one has the right to forget those terrible losses among the Jewish people in this disaster, though some do. No one has the right to forget the decisive role that Russia, the Soviet Army, played in defeating Nazi Germany," he said.

Putin pointed out that he was currently in discussion with Moscow’s chief rabbi about the possibility of establishing a Holocaust museum in Moscow.

Netanyahu expressed hope that the memorial for the Red Army would be ready before Putin’s next visit to Israel, expected within the year.