Fico Intends to Attend Victory Day Military Parade in Moscow Next Year

Bratislava, October 30 (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) is ready to take part in the military parade in Moscow on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany next year, he himself said on Wednesday. "I will accept such an invitation and I will go there because there is something to thank the soldiers of the Red Army for. I will do it because I think it's our moral duty," Fico said. He also claimed that he would attend the event in an interview for Russian television channel Russia 1. "I will be very happy... I will be honoured to come to Moscow for the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War," he noted. The Kremlin has indicated that the Slovak prime minister could be among those who will receive an official invitation to the Red Square military parade. The list of invited guests will be made public in due course, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. At the same time, according to Russian news agency TASS, Fico stressed that he constantly pays tribute to the bravery of Soviet soldiers, in particular during the celebrations of both the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) and the 80th anniversary of the Carpatho-Dukla Operation. In the television interview, Fico also criticised the EU for its approach to the war in Ukraine, reiterating that Ukraine, Russia and the USA should be pressed to meet at the negotiating table. "If necessary, I am ready to talk to President Putin without hesitation and I am absolutely serious," Fico noted. The Kremlin admitted that talks between Fico and Putin are possible. However, there are no specific plans at the moment, Peskov told TASS. zel/mcs