[By Guancha Observer Network, Zhang Jingjuan] This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Patriotic War. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has been invited and will participate in the Moscow parade on May 9. However, the EU has warned European leaders not to send representatives to attend.

According to a report by "Russia Today" (RT), in response to the EU's "impolite" remarks, Fico strongly retorted on the 15th, saying that it is 2025 now, not 1939, and no one can order him where to go or not to go.

A day before Fico made the above remarks (on the 14th), foreign ministers of EU member states held a meeting in Luxembourg. After the meeting, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas told reporters that different member states had clearly discussed that, given Russia's initiation of a "full-scale war" in Europe, Europe would not take any participation in the Moscow parade or celebrations on May 9 lightly.

She said that the EU did not want to see any potential member state participating in the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, and urged all EU member states and representatives of various institutions to visit Kyiv as much as possible, "to truly demonstrate our unity and that we stand with Ukraine."

"Kallas' warnings and threats are disrespectful, and I strongly oppose them," Fico posted on X (formerly Twitter) on the 15th.

Fico wrote, "Kallas' warning is extortion, or does she imply that I will be punished when I return home? I don't know, but I do know that it is 2025, not 1939."

Fico, IC Photo

He believes that Kallas' remarks highlight the necessity to reflect on the democratic values within the EU. He mentioned the recent elections in Romania and France, where far-right candidate Călin Georgescu and far-right leader Marine Le Pen were both barred from running.

Fico emphasized that his travel plans concern national sovereignty. He addressed Kallas directly, saying, "I want to tell you that I am the legitimate prime minister of this sovereign state of Slovakia. No one can order me where to go or not to go."

In explaining his motivation for attending the event, he added, "I will go to Moscow to pay tribute to the thousands of Red Army soldiers who sacrificed their lives to liberate Slovakia and the millions of other victims of Nazi terror."

May 9 is the Victory Day established by Russia to commemorate the defeat of Nazi Germany. In addition to Fico, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has also confirmed his attendance. According to Britain's Daily Telegraph, EU officials have informed Serbia that Vučić's trip "will violate EU membership standards" and may jeopardize Serbia's possibility of joining the EU.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that if the reports are true, this is "European Nazism."

Additionally, according to Politico EU, Ukraine has invited senior EU officials and EU leaders to visit the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on May 9, to counter Russia's "Victory Day." Since 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has designated May 9 as "European Day" to be celebrated annually in Ukraine.

This article is an exclusive contribution from the Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7493923208064746035/

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