With Russia gearing up for its annual May 9 military parade, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has issued a stark warning: attending the festivities in Moscow won’t go unnoticed—and certainly not forgiven—by EU partners.
Speaking from Luxembourg after a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Kallas made her position crystal clear. “Given that Russia is waging an all-out war in Europe, participation in its Victory Day celebrations sends the wrong message,” she told reporters. The annual event marks Russia’s commemoration of the defeat of Nazi Germany 80 years ago, a narrative President Vladimir Putin has co-opted in justifying the ongoing war in Ukraine.
While Moscow has extended invitations to leaders from Brazil, China, India, Serbia, and even EU member Slovakia, Kallas urged EU countries—and especially those seeking to join the bloc—to steer clear of the Red Square stage.
Instead, she’s urging them to take a different route: go to Kyiv.
Ukraine has invited top European leaders to its capital on May 9, offering a symbolic counterpoint to Russia’s martial pageantry. Kallas echoed that sentiment, calling on member states and EU officials to head to Kyiv as a gesture of “genuine solidarity” with Ukraine.
Not all leaders are entertaining Moscow’s invite. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s office confirmed he won’t attend the parade, distancing himself from the Kremlin’s commemoration. However, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who announced his intention to participate back in late 2024, remains a wildcard in the diplomatic standoff.
As the war drags on, Europe finds itself navigating a delicate diplomatic dance—one in which every step, or misstep, is broadcast on a global stage. For Kallas, the message is simple: when it comes to May 9, stand with Ukraine or risk standing alone in Europe.
