“We honor the memory of the more than 400,000 Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we might live free,” Obama said in the statement on the 70th anniversary of the Victory Day.
The president said the United States continues to stand with its allies in defending liberty and human rights in the 21st century.
Obama underscored that more than 16 million US citizens served during World War II.
“After more than five years of brutal fighting that took the lives of some 40 million people across the continent…the forces of freedom triumphed over oppression in Europe,” he went on.
Out of some 40 million World War II victims, mentioned by Obama, more than 27 million were Soviet Union civilian and military casualties, according to historical estimates.