Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to attend Victory Day celebrations in Moscow with Putin

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will travel to Moscow to participate in Victory Day celebrations, where he is scheduled to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin announced that Putin will deliver a closely watched speech during a limited parade on Red Square, marking the annual commemoration of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Fico's attendance at the May 9 celebrations represents a significant diplomatic move for Slovakia, a NATO and European Union member state, at a time when most Western leaders have boycotted Russian events following the country's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Slovak government, led by Fico's Smer-SD party, has taken a more Russia-friendly stance compared to the previous administration, including opposition to military aid for Ukraine and calls for peace negotiations.