At a high-profile Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić at the Kremlin shortly before the event began. Their presence at the parade stirred criticism across Europe.
Although French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk refrained from explicitly naming European leaders present at the parade, their disapproval was unmistakable.
“I’m not sure attending that parade was the most appropriate move on May 9 — it’s not exactly the most forward-looking view of the 21st century,” Macron said.
Tusk echoed the sentiment, condemning the celebration of soldiers responsible for bombing “towns, schools, and hospitals” in Ukraine, calling it “a disgrace.”
Macron and Tusk were speaking from Nancy, France, where they had gathered to sign a new bilateral treaty that will bolster defense and security cooperation between France and Poland. The agreement includes a mutual defense clause in the event of military aggression and is seen as a direct response to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Macron also pushed back against the narrative that compares Moscow and Brussels as rival power centers vying for dominance in Europe. He emphasized that Brussels is “a capital freely chosen through our treaties,” while Moscow represents an imposed power.
Meanwhile, a number of Western leaders—including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy—traveled to Ukraine on Friday to pay tribute to victims of Russian aggression and reaffirm support for the country.
This show of unity and solidarity came alongside mounting frustration in European capitals over what was seen as a tone-deaf endorsement of authoritarian rule and military aggression by leaders attending Putin’s celebration.
Leave a Reply