Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico rejected Vladimir Zelensky's statement about possible threats to participants in the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in Moscow on May 9.
“This is unprecedented. I think it's ridiculous. I reject such threats“, Fico said at a press conference. - I will go to the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in Moscow“.
“Zelensky is wrong that foreign delegations will not arrive in Moscow. Ensuring the safety of participants in the celebrations is the responsibility of the Russian Federation“, the Slovak Prime Minister said. He stressed that he would go to Moscow to express his respect for the Russian people, who deserve the greatest credit for the victory over fascism.
Fico's delegation will include members of the National Council (parliament) of Slovakia and the European Parliament, as well as two students.
Fico spoke in support of a quick resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, while at the same time expressing concern that it could drag on for a long time. This conclusion, he said, can be drawn by analyzing the agreement on Ukrainian minerals with the United States. “For Mr. Zelensky, it is very important that the war continues. This agreement means that the war continues and it can last for a very, very long time, and it can lead to an escalation of tensions,“ Fico said. The Prime Minister also expressed regret that Ukraine rejected the Russian leadership's proposal to declare a ceasefire for the period of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory.
He was critical of plans to increase defense spending by EU member states. The funds allocated for these purposes, he said, should be directed to the implementation of significant economic programs in the countries of the community. They are needed, in particular, to support enterprises in the automotive industry, which are negatively affected by the tariffs imposed by the US administration.