Slovakian PM defies EU by attending Moscow's Victory Day
The Slovakian Prime Minister announced his participation in the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, despite warnings from EU diplomat Kaja Kallas. In an emotional statement, he accused her of lacking respect and attempting to impose political decisions on a sovereign state.
Key points to note:
- Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico confirmed his participation in the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, defying warnings from EU diplomat Kaja Kallas.
- Kaja Kallas opposed EU candidate countries participating in the Moscow celebrations, emphasizing that this decision would not be taken lightly.
- Fico responded by accusing Kallas of lacking respect and trying to impose political decisions on a sovereign state.
We do not want EU candidate countries to participate in the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9th, said EU Foreign Affairs Chief Kaja Kallas on Monday following a meeting of EU foreign ministers. She added that member states' participation would not be "taken lightly."
Prime Minister Fico challenges Brussels
Her remarks prompted a reaction from pro-Russian Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, who is sympathetic to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
"I will go to Moscow on May 9th. Is Ms. Kallas's warning a form of blackmail or a signal that I will be punished upon my return from Moscow? I don’t know. But I do know that the year is 2025, not 1939. Ms. Kallas’s warning confirms that we need a discussion within the EU about the essence of democracy. About what happened in Romania and France in connection with presidential elections, about the "Maidans" organized by the West in Georgia and Serbia, and how the abuse of criminal law against the opposition in Slovakia has been ignored," Fico wrote on the platform X.
"Ms. Kallas, I would like to inform you that I am the legitimate Prime Minister of Slovakia – a sovereign country. No one can dictate to me where I can or cannot travel. I will go to Moscow to pay tribute to the thousands of Red Army soldiers who died liberating Slovakia, as well as to the millions of other victims of Nazi terror. Just as I have paid tribute to the victims of the Normandy landings, or those in the Pacific, or as I plan to honor the RAF pilots," he added.
Fico considers himself one of the "few in the EU who consistently speaks about the need for peace in Ukraine and does not support the continuation of this senseless war."
"Ms. Kallas’s words are disrespectful and I strongly object to them," he concluded.
Military parade in Moscow
Russia holds celebrations for the end of World War II on May 9th. On this date, various events are organized across Russia. In Moscow, a military parade will take place, featuring soldiers who participated in the battles in Ukraine.
Among those who announced their participation are Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, and Aleksandar Vučić, the president of Serbia, one of nine EU candidate countries.
In addition to Serbia, the EU candidate countries include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
