Slovak PM accepts Putin's invitation to mark 80th anniversary of WWII victory in Moscow

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo has officially accepted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to attend the 80th anniversary celebrations of the victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow on May 9, 2025.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Fico expressed his strong interest in participating in the official commemoration, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

“I am extremely interested in participating in the official celebration of the victory over fascism, which will take place on May 9, 2025, in Moscow. Therefore, I am pleased to accept the official invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to participate in these important celebrations,” he wrote.

Fico emphasized the significant role played by the Red Army and the people of the former Soviet Union in defeating fascism during World War II, noting, “The Red Army and the peoples of the former Soviet Union made the greatest contribution to the defeat of fascism and victory in World War II.” He further stated, “Citizens of the Slovak Republic respect and honour all commemorations related to the liberation of our territory by the Red Army in 1944-1945 and are grateful for the assistance provided by the USSR to the Slovak National Uprising.”

The Slovak Prime Minister also reaffirmed his government's commitment to the legacy of the fight against fascism and the importance of historical truth. “The Slovak government values the legacy of the fight against fascism, the historical truth about World War II and the role played by the Red Army in it,” Fico said. He added, “That is why the Slovak government will organise a number of events in 2025, the main one being the celebration of the victory over fascism in May.”

Earlier, Fico had revealed that he had agreed with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to attend the Moscow event together. The Slovak Prime Minister also noted that he was not concerned about potential criticism from other European leaders regarding his decision to participate in the Victory Parade.

In addition to Fico, Milorad Dodik, the President of Republika Srpska (an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina), has also received an invitation from President Putin to attend the Victory Parade on 9 May 2025.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov previously announced that foreign leaders from various countries, beyond the CIS, will be invited to Moscow to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War in 2025.

By Tamilla Hasanova