Russia to do everything to prevent new wars: Putin

Russia will do everything it could to prevent the outbreak of possible new wars, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

During his speech at the Victory Day Parade marking the 68th anniversary of World War II, Putin said Russia will try its best to "cut short anyone's willingness to unleash a new war at any time."

He also vowed that Moscow will continue ensuring peace and strengthening global security.

Soldiers take part in a Victory Day parade at the Red Square in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on May 9, 2013. (Xinhua/Zmeyev)

Calling victory of World War II "the sound of a bell proclaiming the start of life without a war" and "a sacred symbol of loyalty to the fatherland," Putin called for unity, patriotism, family values among different peoples and ethnicities within Russia.

"We have a duty to live up to the expectations of our great grandfathers and fathers. We must get over all the difficulties and barriers and hand down a flourishing, free and strong Russia to our children," he added.

The annual military march gathered tens of thousands of servicemen from various branches of the Russian Armed Forces, cadets of military schools, officers and teachers from military academies across the country.

World War II veterans and foreign guests were invited to watch the annual event held in the Red Square of downtown Moscow.

Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia was trying to obtain a deserving place in the international arena and considered it "unacceptable" to rewrite the history of World War II.

According to him, the memory about the victory was a great "spiritual force" for Russia and a guarantee of the country's power.