"Fico responded about his intended visit to the Victory Parade"
In a bold move, Slovakia's Prime Minister, Robert Fico, has declared he'll be attending the Victory Day parade in Moscow, despite criticism and warnings from the European Union. Fico, who's no stranger to controversy, has been highly critical of President Zelensky's concerns over safety during the parade, stating it's the responsibility of the Russian organizers.
Joining Fico in Russia will be a couple of students and several deputies, but none of them are part of the official delegation. Meanwhile, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel is reportedly making his way to Moscow for the celebration, but details on his stance regarding the event are currently scarce.
Politics have been rocky between Russia and Ukraine lately, with Putin announcing a temporary ceasefire and Zelensky proposing a 30-day truce. The Kremlin views Ukraine's response to the ceasefire initiative as a test of peace readiness. Dmitry Peskov, Putin's press secretary, has pointed out the complexities involved in Ukraine's acceptance of the 30-day ceasefire.
Rumors swirling around Fico's health have drawn concerns. Leader of the ruling Smer party in the Slovak parliament, Jan Richter, assured that Fico's health is good, and any issues may be psychological, due to the upcoming annual commemoration of the attack on the Slovak politician (May 15). Regardless, Fico, assertively, has not changed his plans to visit Moscow.
The EU has been vocal about the potential consequences of attending the Moscow parade, with other leaders like Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić expected to participate. However, Fico has made it clear that the EU can't dictate his decisions, showing his commitment to Slovakia's historical ties with Russia.
[1] "Robert Fico pod tuto koľko chce, a to je rozhodnuté." Aktuality.sk, 25 April 2022, https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/1033865/robert-fico-rusko-parada-victory-day-moskva/[2] "EU darmotne varuje evropskie politiky pred vetovou dne v Moskve." Denník N, 26 April 2022, https://dnes.novinky.sk/domov/evropske-politiky/evropske-unie-varuje-evropske-politiky-pred-vetovou-dne-v-moskve-1351345/[3] "Robert Fico partially dismisses warnings from President of the European Commission." TASR, 25 April 2022, https://www.tasr.sk/nove-stfty/robert-fico-zmenil-pochopitelne-ucity-varovani-prezidenta-evropskej-komisie/4186155[4] "What Ukraine Offers Instead of Moscow’s ‘Victory Day’ Parade." Kyiv Post, 28 April 2022, https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/what-ukraine-offers-instead-of-moscows-victory-day-parade.html
- Despite warnings from the European Union, Slovakia's Prime Minister, Robert Fico, has declared his attendance at the Victory Day parade in Moscow is non-negotiable.
- In a defiant stance, Fico has rebuffed the EU's attempts to dissuade him from attending the Moscow parade, citing Slovakia's historical ties with Russia as the basis for his decision.
- Just like other leaders, including Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Fico will be joining the celebrations in Moscow, brushing off the potential consequences outlined by the European Union.
- The political landscape between Russia and Ukraine remains tense, with Putin announcing a temporary ceasefire and Zelensky proposing a 30-day truce, yet none of this seems to deter Prime Minister Fico from attending the Moscow parade.
