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Bratislava/Moscow – The Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Robert Fico (Smer-SD), plans to attend the traditional military parade on May 9 next year in Moscow, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany. TASR reports according to TASS agency. According to the same source, Fico criticized the European Union for its approach to the war in Ukraine in the program 60 Minutes on Russia 1 television.
“I will be very glad… It will be an honor for me to come to Moscow for the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and, above all, the victory over Nazism. I feel it is my personal duty,” Fico said in an interview with Russian television Rossiya 1.
According to TASS agency, Fico emphasized that he constantly pays tribute to the bravery of Soviet soldiers, especially during the celebrations of the Slovak National Uprising, as well as the 80th anniversary of the Carpathian-Dukla Offensive.
Fico confirmed his decision on Wednesday also in front of Slovak journalists after a government meeting of the Slovak Republic. “I will accept such an invitation and go there because there is a reason to thank the soldiers of the Red Army. I will do it because I think that it is our moral duty,” he specified.
The Kremlin has already indicated that the Slovak Prime Minister could also receive an official invitation to the ceremonial military parade on Red Square. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the list of invited guests will be published in due course.
In an interview with Olga Skabeeva on 60 Minutes on Russia 1 television, Fico criticized the European Union for its approach to the war in Ukraine. The Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic became the first EU politician to appear as the main guest on Russian television since the beginning of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, noted the iDnes.cz portal.
The Slovak Prime Minister accused European powers of supporting the continuation of the war by their assistance to Ukraine. According to him, anti-Russian sanctions are not working, he reiterated in an interview according to the Czech website.
“We all know well that support for President Vladimir Putin is very high in the Russian Federation. But we refuse to admit our guilt. In 2022, when the conflict broke out, we thought: aha, we will use it and get Russia on its knees, humiliate it. However, this strategy did not work out. And so from the first day, I say: for God’s sake, let’s pressure Russia, Ukraine, and the United States to sit down at the negotiating table,” he declared.
“If necessary, I am prepared to speak with President Putin without hesitation and I mean it absolutely seriously,” the Slovak Prime Minister emphasized in the interview. The Kremlin admitted that talks between the leaders of the two countries are possible. However, there are currently no concrete plans, Peskov told TASS.
The opposition criticizes Prime Minister Robert Fico’s appearance on Russian television Rossiya 1. They called it a disgrace. They also point out that he gave the interview as the only high-level EU politician. (October 30)
“We all know well that support for President Vladimir Putin is very high in the Russian Federation. But we refuse to admit our guilt. In 2022, when the conflict broke out, we thought: aha, we will use it and get Russia on its knees, humiliate it. However, this strategy did not work out. And so from the first day, I say: for God’s sake, let’s pressure Russia, Ukraine, and the United States to sit down at the negotiating table.” Robert Fico