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Russia Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Vucic and Fico are heroes
The Kremlin has praised Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico for defying EU pressure and attending the Victory Day celebrations in the Russian capital on Friday. Despite warnings from Brussels, Vucic and Fico also held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in addition to attending the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory in World War II. Both leaders faced travel hurdles after several EU countries closed their airspace to their jets en route to Russia. Moscow condemned the moves as 'hostile.' 'These days… it is simply an act of heroism. Showing one's sovereign will to pay tribute to the memory of Victory Day, despite the blatant, frenzied pressure, is worthy of the highest praise,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. Last month, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned leaders from member and candidate countries against traveling to Moscow to commemorations of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. She suggested that they visit Kiev instead. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos reportedly also told Vucic in April that his presence in Moscow would be held against Serbia's EU bid. Latvia and Lithuania denied their airspace to the plane of the Serbian president, forcing it to fly through Bulgaria, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Georgia in order to make it to Moscow on Wednesday. Vucic came to Russia despite a recent health scare that forced him to cut short a trip to the US and cancel a meeting with President Donald Trump in Florida. Estonia closed its airspace to Fico's plane on Wednesday. The Baltic state's foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, claimed that 'Russia is a country that launched and continues a war in Europe' and 'participation in propaganda events organized by them should be ruled out' for EU representatives. Putin earlier praised those who accepted the invitation, calling them courageous for attending despite pressure from Brussels. The celebrations in Moscow were attended by heads of state and top officials from 30 countries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Russia Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Defiant Serbian leader sends message to EU from Red Square (VIDEO)
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has delivered a pointed message to the European Union from Moscow's Red Square, asserting his nation's historical legacy and sovereignty despite pressure from Brussels over his attendance at Russia's Victory Day celebrations. In a video address recorded on Wednesday, Vucic expressed pride in Serbia's role during World War II, stating: 'I am proud to be the president of Serbia, a nation that has the right to be proud, because it did not welcome Hitler's soldiers with flowers.' He emphasized the importance of remembering the sacrifices made by the Soviet Union during the war, noting that tens of millions of people suffered in order for us to live today, and that no one has the right to revise history. During a meeting with Vucic last month, European Commission Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos reportedly threatened that his attendance would be held against Serbia's EU bid. Despite the pressure, Vucic had not changed his decision to attend the event, where a unit of the Serbian Armed Forces will also take part. Russian President Vladimir Putin praised those who accepted the invitation, calling them courageous for attending despite pressure from Brussels. 'I promised Putin I would come. I didn't hide it from anyone,' Vucic stated, addressing anticipated criticism from the EU. 'I think there will be consequences, but primarily personal ones for me.' Vucic also detailed the challenges he faced en route to Moscow, revealing that Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania had denied overflight permissions, necessitating a circuitous route through Bulgaria, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Amid mass flight disruptions in Russia in recent days, caused by Ukrainian drone strikes, the Serbian leader's plane 'barely got permission from the Russian authorities to fly over,' he noted. The Serbian president highlighted the significance of his visit to Russia in terms of bilateral relations, mentioning discussions on gas supply contracts and expressing gratitude for Russia's non-recognition of Kosovo. At the same time, Vucic condemned Western states, who, he said, 'did a great injustice' to Serbia and 'now want something more from a small, rebellious people.' 'Now they have their own interests, so they tell us 'don't go back to the past, look to the future.' They can't give you a rational answer except threats, intimidation… We're all stupid, naive, we're supposed… to look up at the sky and pretend we don't understand anything that's going on around us,' he said. He nevertheless reiterated Belgrade's intention to maintain its path toward EU membership. Vucic came to Russia despite a recent health scare that forced him to cut a trip to the US short, canceling a planned meeting with President Donald Trump. The Victory Day celebrations in Moscow commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, with leaders from various countries expected to attend, including Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
