A number of leaders who refused to come to Moscow and take part in the Victory Day parade on May 9 is growing.
The Russian Foreign Ministry reported earlier that Filip Vujanovic, the President of Montenegro, agreed to participate in the parade. However, his press service says that on this day he plans to be in Podgorica.
The presidents of Moldova, Finland, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, the United States, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron, European Council President Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Sweden opted out of the participation in the commemorative events dedicated to the victory over Nazism.
The only European leader who agreed to celebrate the victory over Hitler next to Putin is Czech President Milos Zeman. Today, the Czech parliament is to decide whether the President’s visit will be paid for by the taxpayer’s money (appr. $25,000) or he will go at his own cost.
It is still unknown whether Belarus President Alyaksandr Lukashenka will be present at the celebrations.
The next month may be rich in the events for the President and his schedule is still being made, Natalia Eysmont, Lukashenka’s press secretary said.
“We received such offer and invitation. But I cannot give any formal confirmation of this information,” she told RFE/RL.
