Russia's Putin derides 'Russophobia' in Europe at World War Two memorial

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a flower-laying ceremony at the Motherland monument at Piskarevskoye Memorial Cemetery, to mark 80 years since Leningrad siege was lifted during the World War Two, in Saint Petersburg, Russia January 27, 2024. Sputnik/Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin castigated Europe on Saturday for "Russophobia" and criticized the Baltic States over human rights at the unveiling of a World War Two memorial.

Since he sent Russian troops into Ukraine nearly two years ago, Putin has been making comparisons with the fight against the Nazis in order to rally his nation.