Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has confirmed he will attend the May 9 Victory Day celebration in Moscow, defying European Union warnings that such participation could jeopardize Serbia’s path to EU membership. Serbia will also send a military unit to march in the Red Square parade—marking the first time it is co-organizing the event with Russia.
Vucic’s stance follows that of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, who likewise rejected the demand from Brussels that no EU candidate country attend the 80th anniversary in Russia of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany.
EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Affairs Kaja Kallas declared earlier this month that Brussels had “made it very clear” that participation in the Moscow event would violate expectations for candidate countries. The EU had already taken action against Georgia’s candidacy last year, and they, as with Serbia, have tried to join the EU, while also maintaining relations with Russia. Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych attempted the same thing in 2013, triggering the Anglo-American 2014 overthrow of his elected government.
