Chovanec: Fico Can Relay Message from Zelenskyy to Putin During Visit to Moscow

Bratislava, 7 May (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico is not going to attend the military parade during Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on 9 May and will only lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Rastislav Chovanec said at Thursday's session of the House European Affairs Committee. According to Chovanec, the Slovak premier could also pass messages from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Instead of Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Marek Estok will accompany Fico to Moscow. "The prime minister's trip to Moscow is primarily focused on commemorating the end of the Second World War. He will not attend the military parade and will only lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. But yes, alongside this he's going also to meet the Russian president, to whom he may convey messages from the Ukrainian president he met twice over the past week. The prime minister may also obtain valuable information from the Russian president on how Putin views efforts to end the war," Chovanec said. "I believe that at this time it is necessary to communicate with all parties involved and that the European Union and European politicians should care about being at the negotiating table where a peace agreement will be reached," he added, noting that several political leaders from Western Europe have already begun promoting the view that discussions with the Russian president on this issue are necessary. The deputy minister stressed during the committee meeting that the Slovak prime minister traditionally commemorates the end of the Second World War in several locations. He added that besides the Moscow trip, Fico plans to visit France in June and is in Germany on Thursday, where he is visiting the former Dachau concentration camp. mf