**Slovak PM Defies EU Warning, to Attend Russia‘s Victory Day Celebrations**
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will travel to Moscow on May 9 to attend Russia’s military celebrations, despite warnings from the EU High Representative Kaja Kallas. This move has been met with criticism and raised eyebrows in Brussels.
Fico had announced his plans to visit Moscow earlier, citing a desire to pay respects to the thousands of Red Army soldiers who died liberating Slovakia during World War II. However, this decision comes as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, a conflict that Kallas has termed a “full-scale war in Europe.”
**Kallas Urges EU Leaders to Boycott**
Just hours before Fico’s announcement, Kallas had urged European leaders to boycott the Moscow celebrations in solidarity with Ukraine. She warned that participation in these events would be viewed as a significant misstep by the European Union.
“I am going to Moscow on May 9,” Fico wrote on Facebook, responding directly to Kallas’ warning. “No one can tell me where I should or shouldn’t travel.” He claimed that as the legitimate Prime Minister of Slovakia, he had the right to make his own decisions about international travel.
**Russia Invites World Leaders**
The Russian government has invited a number of world leaders to attend events marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany. In addition to EU member Slovakia and Serbia, leaders from China, India, and Brazil have been invited.
It is worth noting that Russia has repeatedly used historical commemorations to justify its invasion of Ukraine, with President Vladimir Putin falsely claiming the war is an attempt to “denazify” the country.
**Protests in Slovakia**
Fico’s decision to attend the Moscow celebrations comes after he met with Putin in November 2024. This meeting sparked large-scale protests in Slovakia, with demonstrators denouncing Fico’s Kremlin-friendly policies and justifying Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian government has invited senior EU leaders and officials to Kyiv on May 9 to counter Russia’s celebration, further highlighting the divide between EU member states and their stance on Russia’s actions.
As the international community continues to grapple with the implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Fico’s decision to attend the Moscow celebrations serves as a reminder of the complex web of alliances and interests at play in Europe today.
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