This is a presentation is the reason of this signing by Stalin this so-called pact Ribbontrop-Molotov. Was the signing of this pact the mistake of Stalin, or the signing of this one was inevitable in that concrete historical conditions in which Soviet Union developed at that time?

First of all I would like to answer in my opinion very important question. Was the second world war inevitable or no? Who was interested in the war?

First of all Hitler. Because Hitler pursued the policy oriented on the revised of the result of Versailles treaty. He needed the control over Europe and then over the world. He needed the territories of European countries, and first of all the territories of the Soviet Union.

Was Stalin interested in the war? Yes, he was interested. Why? Because his policy was based on the so-called Bolshevik Doctrine of imperialist confrontation. According to the Bolshevik vision of the situation in the world after the first world war socialism won in the Russia and after the second world war socialism had to win in Europe. And from this point of view, Stalin was interested in this war. And then Stalin and Bolsheviks oriented on the revising the results of the first world war. Russia lost after Paris conference Finland, Baltic region, western Belorussia, western Ukraine, and Bassarabia. And Stalin tried to get back all these regions. From this point of view, I said he was interested in the war, but he desired the war but the war between Western countries. Because he didn´t see the difference or differences between Germany and France and Great Britain. For him all these countries were imperialistic countries. Enemies of the first socialist state, Russia. And he planned that after the war between Germany and Great Britain and France he can use the new situation and can strengthen the influence of Russia and Eastern Europe and get back all this region.

Stalin understood that the war was inevitable. In 1931 he said Russia or Soviet Union has 10 years to prepare for the war. ´31. And all all policy of Stalin was oriented on the strengthening of the position Russia in Europe and in this inevitable war, in this inevitable military clashes in Europe. He tried to strengthen the position of the Soviet Union first of all by political means and he proposed the ideal so-called European collective security, which had to be oriented against Germany, Hitler´s Germany. And the part of this system of collective security was the treaty between Russia and France signed in 1934 and then the treaty between Russia and Czechoslovakia signed in ´43. But Western countries didn´t want to build this system of collective security and it was clear for Stalin during the Czechoslovak crisis. Munich showed Stalin that Western countries are ready to collaborate with Hitler and it was clear for them that Russia can change or must change the orientation of its policy and must find the opportunities for cooperation with Hitler´s Germany. And after occupation by Hitler in 1939 Czechoslovakia, Stalin began to act in that direction.

As far as Great Britain and France they wanted the war too. Why? Because they, the society of these countries didn´t want and were not ready to struggle, to begin the new war with Germany. And they conceded the Russia, Socialist Russia, socialist Soviet Union as an enemy of western democracies. And they planned by the hand of Hitler destroy, to destroy the Soviet Union. From this point of view they wanted the war, too. It meant that all player of political life in Europe at that time wanted already to go to the war.

Stalin dismissed, in March 1939, former Foreign Minister Litvinov and nominated Molotov because he decided to begin the talks, the negotiations with Hitler. Litvinov was Jewish origin and from this point of view it was impossible to begin the talks, the negotiations, with Hitler, Ribbentrop, taking into account the policy in this field pursuing in Hitler´s Germany. But, Stalin hesitated and the beginning of the talks or negotiations between Russia, Soviet delegations in Moscow in July, August 1939 with delegation from France and Great Britain show that he tried to use the opportunities of cooperation with Western democracies. But at the same time he played the game with Hitler. And in the middle of August ´39 Stalin understood set Western democracies didn´t want to sign the Treaty of cooperation with Russia.

Problem number one was, at that time, the participation of Red Army in clashes with Hitler army on the Polish-Germany border. Because Russia hadn´t a joint border with Germany. But Polish government was against of such participation of Red Army in the clashes with Germany. They thought that in such conditions Poland can be occupied by Russia and Piłsudski, Marshal Piłsudski said if Poland would be occupied by Germany we lose the body. If Poland would be occupied by Russia we will lose our spirit. It´s better to lose body. And from this point of view, Polish government, Poland were strongly opposed the participation of Russia, of Red Army, in this struggle against Hitler Germany. And Stalin in the middle of the August 1939 decided that it´s better for them to sign this treaty with Hitler. He had the information and now it´s clear that it was wrong information, but he had information that Chamberlain, Great Britain, was ready to sign the such treaty with Hitler too. And in such situation Russia became, or could became in very difficult dangerous geopolitical situation.

Russia had at the time the military clashes with Japan in Mongolia on Khalkin Gol. And he can receive real threat of war with Germany, Hitler´s Germany, which can be supported by Western democracies. And from this point of view Stalin decided to go on the signing of this treaty.

Hitler promised him these regions which have been rock lost by Russia after the first world war. Western countries hesitated they spoke about the conference, about possibilities of such development of situation but Hitler was ready to give these territories as a territories of the influence of Russia. It wasn´t about the occupation of these territories. In the treaty was said that this area is the zone of influence, of interest, of Russia. In fact nobody knows about the signing of this treaty in the Soviet Union including the members of the so-called old Politburo of communist parties. About about five, six men knew about this treaty: Stalin, Voroshilov, Beria, Molotov, and Kruschev, and some others.

Was the signing of this treaty by Stalin historical mistake? Or it is the result of his geopolitical vision. Was occupation by Red Army on 17 September 1939 the part of Poland territories mistake or it was the result of his vision of development situation.

There was one key question. Could Hitler attack Poland if Stalin didn´t sign this treaty? Very important question. There are some proposals, some ideas, but I think that the documents which we historians have now witnessed that Hitler attacked Poland without signing of this treaty. And in that situation the clash between Russia and the Soviet Union, Soviet Russia, and Hitler was inevitable. But red Army at the time was very weak. And the war on Khalkin Gol witnessed about the weakness of Red Army. And I think this answer is made clear the motivation of Stalin solution to sign this treaty. Of course it had been the cynical step. Stalin was cynic. And of course the signing of this treaty was immoral step and prime minister of Russia Mr. Putin speaking on the meeting in Gdansk at the beginning of September of this year characterized this treaty as immoral. And he is right. But it´s moral qualification and political qualification. And I think that, I think that for Stalin at that concrete situation the signing of this treaty was inevitable.

Why Stalin took the decision to make the invasion into the Poland on 17 September? Stalin understood that the signing of this treaty will not exclude or rule out the war with Hitler. He understood that the war with Hitler will be, would be inevitable. And from this point of view his decision to invade into Poland on 17 September was the part of his policy of preparation to this war.

Soviet Russia lost Western Belorussia during the so-called Polish-Russian war in 1920. Soviet or Red Army was defeated near from Warsaw. And then according the treaty signed in Riga all these territories were occupied by Poland. Although in Paris conference was proclaimed this so-called Kerson line which must go near Brest, 400 km west from Minsk, where had been organized this new Soviet Polish border. If Stalin didn´t, wouldn´t invade on September ´39 into Poland Germany troops were stationed 30 km near Minsk, an after invasion they were stationed 400 km west of Minsk.

What does it mean from concrete point of view.? Germany troops in August ´41 took a week to occupied Minsk and if they were stationed near Minsk in a week could occupied Smolensk near Moscow. Maybe maybe Stalin was right. Of course Soviet troops didn´t bring the freedom for this people in the western Belorussia about 700,000 people were arrested, killed, and so on. 700,000 people. About 500,000 people were arrested in western Ukraine. But from geopolitical point of view we must take into account this fact.

Yes after the signing of these treaty Stalin collaborated with Hitler. It was said here that Red Army and Hitler troops organized the military parade in Brest. Many communists, Germany communist were arrested in Russia was given to Hitler and so on. It´s shame side in the history of Soviet Union.

There is some other shame sides of our history. The Katyn tragedy - in fact it´s a crime. Stalin´s crime against Polish officers and I think it´s time to tell our Polish colleagues Polish people our sorry for this crime. And I hope that in March of the next year our government maybe president maybe prime minister will tell these words.

But, analyzing the situation of 1939 and the reasons of signing by Stalin of this pact we should take into account the consequences of his policy towards Poland. Yes it can be an invasion in September 1939. It had been crime in Katyn. But the modern borders of Poland was made by Stalin. You in Poland, you have borders which had been produced, which had been made by Stalin in Yalta. If we compare the borders of Poland between the war and modern borders we can see the differences between them. Its fact, real historical fact. I say about that in order to show that history isn´t made only in white color, and we started such a history during the communist time and now our colleagues are trying to show the history only in black colors. It´s wrong. Wrong attitude. We must see the situation, the whole situation completely. And only in that way we can make the realistic real right political conclusions thank you.