Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo has confirmed that he intends to visit Moscow next week to take part in celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazism. He also criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of “threatening” foreign leaders who are going to Moscow.
The other day, Slovak media reported that Fitzo might have health problems: he cancelled part of his programme and did not appear in public. When asked by a journalist about his health on 4 May, Fico replied that no one should care. He confirmed that he was still suffering the consequences of the assassination attempt last May, but that they did not prevent him from working.
Speaking about the trip to Moscow, Fitzo said that Zelensky, saying that he could not guarantee the safety of foreign leaders who intend to visit Russia on May 9, was “threatening” them. “If Mr Zelensky thinks that his shouting will make foreign delegations not come, he is deeply mistaken,” Fitzo said, while essentially agreeing with Zelensky’s words that Russia is responsible for the safety of foreign guests.
Fitzo urged Ukraine to accept Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer of a truce for three days to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Victory. “It is a great disrespect when someone to a country that made the greatest contribution to the victory over fascism says, ‘Well, celebrate, we might throw you some drone or something there,'” the Slovak prime minister said.
Zelensky earlier said he rejected Putin’s proposal for a three-day ceasefire, calling it cynical. The Ukrainian president said Kiev was ready for a long-term truce at any time, but disagreed that the ceasefire should be used just to keep celebrations quiet in Russia.
Zelensky did not threaten drone strikes on Moscow. Speaking about the fact that Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of foreign leaders, he said that Ukraine cannot be responsible for what is happening in Russia, where various provocations are also possible.
Fitzo, if he comes to Moscow, will be the only leader of an EU member state to visit the Russian capital on 9 May. European Union diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas in April urged European leaders not to participate in the celebrations in Moscow on 9 May.
It is still not known whether Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will come to Moscow. The day before it became known that he was forced to cut short his visit to the United States due to ill health. He has already been discharged from the hospital in Belgrade, but, according to doctors, he should not be expected to return to work in the near future.