Kaja Kallas, a High EU representative for foreign affairs and security policy, warned EU Member States’ leaders before visiting Moscow on the occasion of May Victory Day celebrations. Given that Russia is conducting a war in Europe, their participation will not be taken lightly, Kallas said after the EU Council meeting for foreign affairs in Luxembourg, reports according to the report of Politico magazine.
The Russian media reported that the government of President Vladimir Putin invited to the celebrations of leaders of China, India and Brazil, as well as Slovakia and Serbia, which seeks to enter the 27-member block. Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico has already announced that he will participate in the celebrations of 9 May in Moscow, as well as Serbian President Aleksandar Vučič.
Diplomatic consequences
“It was also very clear about what different Member States said that participation in the escorts or celebrations of 9 May in Moscow will not be taken lightly from the European side, as Russia is leading a real war in Europe,” Kallas told journalists. At the same time, she added that the EU did not want Putin’s celebrations to be joined by representatives of the candidate countries.
Celebrations 9. May in Russia are held on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, in which Russia played a key role. Russian officials have repeatedly claimed that one of the goals of the so -called special military operation in Ukraine is its denacification.
Counterweight
Ukrainian government led by President Volodymyr Zelenský, Meanwhile, invited leading European officials on Monday to visit Kiev, 9 May. According to Politic, this is a symbolic counterweight of an annual military parade, which they organize on the same day on the Red Square in Moscow.
Kallas also called for a visit to Kiev after the ministerial meeting in Luxembourg. “I also called on all Member States, but also representatives of institutions to visit Kiev as much as possible and show our solidarity with Ukraine,” she added.
