Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will attend the Russian military celebrations in Moscow on May 9, despite warnings from EU High Representative Kaya Kalas to European leaders.

"I am going to Moscow on May 9," Fico wrote in a Facebook post.

Earlier in the day, Kallas called on European leaders to boycott the event in solidarity with Ukraine.

Taking part in the celebrations in Moscow "will not be taken lightly by the European side, given that Russia is indeed waging a full-scale war in Europe," she said.

In his post, Fico directly addressed Kallas's warning and insisted he had the right to visit Moscow.

"Mrs. Kallas, I would like to inform you that I am the legitimate prime minister of Slovakia - a sovereign state," No one can tell me where I should or should not travel. I will go to Moscow to pay tribute to the thousands of Red Army soldiers who died in the liberation of the Slovak Republic," he wrote.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's government has invited a number of world leaders to attend the events marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany. In addition to EU member Slovakia and EU candidate Serbia, the Kremlin has invited leaders from China, India and Brazil.

Russia has repeatedly used the historic celebrations to justify its invasion of Ukraine, with Putin claiming the war was an attempt to "denazify" the country.

Fico initially announced plans to attend the May 9 parades in November 2024. A month later, he traveled to Moscow to meet with Putin, becoming the third EU leader to do so since the full-scale invasion began.

The meeting with Putin precipitated widespread protests in Slovakia, with demonstrators condemning Fico's Kremlin-friendly policies. In addition to seeking warmer ties with Moscow, the prime minister has made comments justifying the Russian invasion.

He has consistently opposed military aid to Ukraine.

The Ukrainian government invited senior EU leaders and officials to Kiev on 9 May to oppose Russia's holiday. | BGNES