Fico Reconsiders: Will Skip Moscow Victory Day Parade, Meet Putin Briefly

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced he will not participate in the Victory Day military parade in Moscow on May 9, opting instead for a brief meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and a visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This decision, made during the European Political Community summit in Yerevan, signals a nuanced approach to Russia amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions. While Fico's stance on attending the parade differs from initial Kremlin announcements, his planned meeting with Putin underscores Slovakia's continued engagement with Russia, albeit on a reduced scale. The scaled-back nature of this year's Moscow parade, notably the absence of military hardware and cadets due to drone attack fears, further contextualizes Fico's decision. This contrasts sharply with last year's more elaborate commemoration. Notably, Fico also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the summit, reaffirming support for Ukraine's EU aspirations and agreeing to a joint government meeting. This dual engagement highlights Slovakia's delicate balancing act between maintaining dialogue with Russia and supporting Ukraine's European integration, a perspective often viewed differently in Western capitals that may prioritize a more confrontational stance.

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I will lay flowers at the tomb of the unknown soldier of the Red Army (…) and I have scheduled a short meeting with President Putin. That's all. I am not participating in any military parade.