Moscow parade security is Russia's responsibility - Fico (paraphrased):
Fickle Feud Over Festivities
Slovak PM Robert Fico isn't mincing words when it comes to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's comments about the safety of politicians attending May 9 Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. Fico calls out Zelensky for allegedly making threats, stating it's not the right way to handle security concerns.
Speaking at a press conference, Fico expressed his disappointment with Zelensky's remarks, which suggest Russia might pose a threat to foreign delegations. Fico emphasizes that Russia should ensure safety on its own turf, but he also criticizes Zelensky for stirring the pot.
"It's disrespectful to a country that contributed massively to defeating fascism and suffered colossal losses to suggest they might be targeted," Fico says bluntly.
Zelensky had previously indicated that Ukraine couldn't guarantee the safety of foreign representatives during their visits to Moscow on May 9, implying that Russia might take action against them. The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, urged European leaders in April to skip the military parade in Moscow, favoring solidarity with Ukraine instead.
The Ukrainian Embassy in Bratislava countered Fico's criticism, stating that Zelensky's comments were misunderstood and meant as warnings about potential Russian provocations rather than threats. Meanwhile, global media outlets interpreted Zelensky's statements as warnings about the risks of attending the parade given possible threats.
Fico's accusations underscore the ongoing tension between Ukraine and some European leaders regarding Russia's military actions and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The discord over the Victory Day parade also highlights differing views on how best to address safety concerns during significant international events.
In the Know:- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for ambiguous comments about the safety of politicians attending May 9 celebrations in Moscow.- Fico viewed Zelensky's remarks as threats, emphasizing that it's Russia's responsibility to ensure safety at their events.- The Ukrainian Embassy in Bratislava claimed Zelensky's comments were misconstrued and meant as warnings about possible Russian provocations.- The tense relationship between Ukraine and some European leaders, along with discrepancies over Russia's military actions, is highlighted by this incident.
- The ongoing migration of political opinions in Europe, particularly regarding war-and-conflicts and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, is underlined by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's ambiguous comments regarding the safety of politicians attending May 9 celebrations in Moscow.
- As policy-and-legislation related to foreign affairs and security concerns unfolds, Fico's accusations towards Zelensky serve as a reflection of the dissenting views in the realm of politics and international relations.
- General news outlets covering the war-and-conflicts in Ukraine are closely monitoring the discourse between Slovakia and Ukraine, as their contrasting perceptions of Zelensky's comments shed light on the challenges that arise when addressing safety concerns during significant international events.
