Fico Meets Putin in Moscow, Speaks to Lukashenko as Well

Moscow/Bratislava, May 9 (TASR) - Slovak Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) met and shook hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday before the military parade in Moscow to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe, Politico news website has reported. Putin welcomed the Slovak premier to the Kremlin shortly before the start of the military parade on the adjacent Red Square. He also received Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Fico is the only leader of an EU-member state to come to Moscow for the celebrations this year. Belarusian news agency BelTA wrote that following the parade, Fico also briefly spoke to Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, who praised his visit to Russia. "Excellent. You said you would come, and you did," the Belarusian leader told Fico. Lukashenko also sent greetings to foreign leaders, including Slovakia, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of victory in WWII. "I am positive that the great victory won at the cost of enormous losses will forever remain a symbol of the triumph of good over evil, of freedom over enslavement. The people of Belarus greatly appreciate that your country preserves the memory of the deeds of Soviet and Slovak soldiers who fought jointly against the Nazis. I believe that the protection of common historical truth can serve as a reliable basis not only for the development and strengthening of Belarusian-Slovak relations, but also for ensuring peace and stability throughout Europe," said Lukashenko in his message to Fico. After the military parade, the Slovak premier, along with other statesmen present, laid wreaths and flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Alexandrovsky Garden near the Kremlin walls. Fico also announced several bilateral meetings, including talks with Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Fico's visit, which took place at a time when Russia has been waging a war against Ukraine for more than three years, has been criticised by several European officials. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said on Friday that Fico is on the wrong side of history by meeting Kremlin leader Putin, on whose orders Russian troops invaded neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022. The Baltic States also expressed their disapproval of his trip by not allowing the Slovak government plane to fly over their territory on its way to Moscow. ko/df