German Chancellor Angela Merkel ‘hesitated long’, but in the end she decided not to participate in a Moscow parade on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the World War II victory, LB.ua reports with a reference to Zeit Online.
The reason for such decision is the role of Russia in the Ukrainian conflict because the visit could insult the Ukrainian government, the newspaper says.
“It is hard to imagine Merkel taking part in the parade with the tanks that might be used in eastern Ukraine”.
At the same time, the Chancellor is reported to arrive in Moscow and visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier together with Vladimir Putin on May, 10.
Zeit Online calls Merkel’s decision ‘a turning point’.
The Ukrainian authorities, the US and the EU have repeatedly accused Moscow of intervening in the affairs of Ukraine. Despite the overwhelming evidence of Russia’s participation in the conflict in Donbas, the Kremlin keeps denying any involvement.
It is to be recalled that Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite also refused to go to Moscow to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the victory.
