German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder apologized to Russia on Sunday for the suffering inflicted by Germans during World War II and asked Moscow for forgiveness.

"Today we ask for forgiveness for what Germans inflicted in Germany's name on the Russian people and other peoples," Schroeder was quoted as saying by an article published in the Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda on Monday.

He said it is "a great honor and a sign of trust in the German people" that Russian President Vladimir Putin invited him to attend the ceremonies in Moscow marking the 60th anniversary of Germany's World War II defeat.

In a joint interview with the German daily Bild on Friday, Schroeder and Putin stressed that their countries have a common responsibility to remember the history and ensure that war and violence are never repeated.

They also said their countries will make efforts together for stability and security in Europe and all over the world.