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- Strength and will: the Russian Federation appreciated the efforts of European leaders to come to the Victory anniversary
Strength and will: the Russian Federation appreciated the efforts of European leaders to come to the Victory anniversary
Vladimir Putin's regular marathon of talks with foreign leaders has come to an end: on May 9, immediately after the celebrations in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, the Russian President received in the Kremlin the heads of five states - Brazil, Egypt, Uzbekistan, Serbia and Slovakia. In a conversation with everyone, the Russian leader confirmed the strong level of strategic partnership, and emphasized the arrival of Alexander Vucic and Robert Fico in Moscow despite the obstacles they created. On the same day, Vladimir Putin exchanged congratulations with his American counterpart, Donald Trump, through his assistants so far. About how Brazil is trying to step up on the Ukrainian track and which country the Russian president was invited to — in the Izvestia article.
How are Moscow's relations with Cairo and Brasilia developing?
The jubilee celebrations in honor of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War became the basis for one of the largest international summits in terms of the number of heads of state present. 27 foreign leaders gathered in Moscow for the celebration. Active international contacts are underway in the capital for the third day. The leaders continued their bilateral meetings even after the end of the main event of the anniversary celebrations, the Victory Day Parade on Red Square.
Immediately after the parade, the laying of flowers and the reception, the head of state met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose trip to Russia was disrupted several times due to his work schedule and health problems. Then the Russian leader held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi. The head of state met with him relatively recently, at the Kazan BRICS summit in October.
Vladimir Putin began the talks with the agenda of the visit: he noted the efforts of both peoples in the Second World War. In those years, important military events really unfolded on Egyptian territory: the country became a base of support for the Soviet allies in the anti-Hitler coalition in North Africa. Brazil joined it: units of the Latin American country took part in the fighting in Italy and were engaged in the protection of communications in the south Atlantic, the president added. The leaders thanked the head of state for the invitation to Moscow and conveyed congratulations to the Russian people.
— We live in a very difficult time. Many of the things that we believed would happen after World War II, such as increased multilateralism, a stronger role for the United Nations, and increased free trade, we used to think would happen in the long run to ensure peace in the world. But unfortunately, we do not live in this tranquility today," said Luis Inacio Lula da Silva.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 9
It is known that Vladimir Putin discussed the Ukrainian crisis with the Brazilian president. The Latin American politician confirmed his readiness to make every effort to resolve the conflict. His country is often seen as one of the possible mediators in the Ukrainian settlement, while she herself had previously admitted such a possibility.
Brazil has close relations with the Russian Federation - the countries cooperate through the BRICS - but does not take a pro-Russian position, like Venezuela or Cuba, while maintaining relations with Ukraine. Considering that Brazil has significantly strengthened its position in the international arena in recent years, this really gives reason to consider it as one of the intermediaries. Although not the most obvious because of the geographical distance.
In the context of the news on the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, it is important to note that Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump exchanged congratulations on the occasion of Victory Day. However, through assistants, not directly.
On the same day, the White House announced that the United States hoped that Russia and Ukraine would agree to a 30-day cease-fire, and Trump discussed this issue with Vladimir Zelensky by phone. At the same time, Kiev does not observe the three-day truce that the Russian Federation announced during these holidays.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during a meeting on May 9
Of course, Russia and Brazil also discussed bilateral relations. As a result, it was decided to restore the work of the high-level commission on cooperation.
Which of the leaders tried to block the way to Moscow
One of the most anticipated meetings of the entire four—day summit began closer to 21:00 - at the Grand Kremlin Palace, Vladimir Putin met with Serbian leader Alexander Vucic.
The Russian President recalled that the friendship of the fraternal peoples of Russia and Serbia was tempered during the harsh years of the Great Patriotic War, and this is a solid foundation for strategic partnership relations. Alexander Vucic said that he feels "at home" in Moscow and expressed hope for a meeting with the Russian leader in Serbia. Moreover, Alexander Vucic even spoke Russian during the meeting with his colleague. First of all, he thanked Vladimir Putin for the magnificent parade and emphasized the common history.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 9
— We have good cooperation in various fields, but I think we can increase and strengthen this cooperation in all areas. Russia's role is important, and together with you we have the task of preventing a revision of history. Today has shown us what we need to do together," Alexander Vucic said.
He also thanked Vladimir Putin for developing relations between the two countries and supporting the territorial integrity of the Balkan state (we are talking about Moscow's non-recognition of Kosovo's sovereignty). He also called the issue of supplying Serbia with Russian gas vital and clarified that Belgrade expects supplies to remain "on good terms."
Moscow appreciates that the Serbian president is personally participating in the celebrations on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Victory, despite "certain logistical problems," Vladimir Putin said.
Earlier, Alexander Vucic and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (with whom the head of state also held talks on that day) tried to prevent the Baltic countries from being on the Red Square on that day, which forbade their aircraft to fly over their territory. Nevertheless, other routes were found, and after arriving in the Russian capital, Vucic recorded a video message directly from the center of Moscow, stating that he was indifferent to the reaction of other states to his visit to Russia.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 9
However, the EU did not stop there: on the same day, the head of EU diplomacy, Kaya Kallas, criticized Robert Fico's visit to Moscow. The Slovak Prime minister said she had no authority to criticize his visit to the Russian capital. He recalled that more than 60,000 Red Army soldiers died during the liberation of Slovakia, and stressed that he had come to Moscow to pay tribute to them. The prime minister asked how politicians should engage in diplomacy if they do not meet and have a normal dialogue on issues on which they have different views.
Milan Mazurek, an MEP from Slovakia, believes that in this case the interests of the Republic and the Slovak people should come first: economic restrictions on the Russian Federation are simply unprofitable for Slovakia, as well as for Europe as a whole.
— I maintain a dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation with the whole world. For this reason, I do not support the anti—Russian policy of Brussels, which damages Slovakia," he told Izvestia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a meeting in the Kremlin before the military parade dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory.
The final event of the day in Putin's schedule was negotiations with the leader of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The heads of state have already spoken by phone twice this year, in February and early May. During the May conversation, they agreed to discuss issues of bilateral trade and economic cooperation at a personal meeting.
What Putin talked about with Fico
Putin thanked Slovakia for its attentive attitude to the monument to Soviet soldiers. According to Fico, Slovakia is interested in cooperation with the Russian Federation in the preservation of monuments of the Second World War. It is worth noting that since 2022, the Moscow Bureau for Human Rights has recorded at least 300 cases of the dismantling of monuments to Soviet soldiers in the EU. Slovakia remains one of the countries where the current authorities are not engaged in rewriting history. On the contrary, there are even plans to erect a monument to Marshal Konev in Bratislava. The Russian side is ready to provide any assistance in this matter, if necessary, Vladimir Putin stressed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico during a meeting on May 9
In addition, Moscow is ready to do everything in its power to fully restore relations with Slovakia. They were interrupted at the initiative of Fico's predecessors, who, according to Vladimir Putin, followed the line of the collective West.
Fico expressed interest in pragmatic relations with the Russian Federation. He called the actions of some EU countries that tried to prevent him from coming to Moscow a "child's joke." At the same time, he stated that EU sanctions against Russia are not working. Moreover, they are damaging the European Union.
Slovakia is ready to use its veto power to ban energy supplies from Russia, which is being promoted by some EU countries and Brussels. The European Commission suggests that all countries of the association completely abandon Russian gas after 2027.
Slovakia also wants to develop cooperation with the Russian Federation in the field of peaceful atom. In addition, Fico noted: There is no military solution to the Ukrainian conflict — the crisis, according to him, must be resolved diplomatically, which, by the way, Russia regularly calls for.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
