EK warns that the celebration in Moscow is part of Russian propaganda

BRUSSELS – The celebration of Victory Day in Moscow is part of Russian propaganda and an attempt to justify the invasion of Ukraine, so EU member states and candidate countries should refrain from attending this event, said a spokesperson for the European Commission (EC) on Thursday.

“We see the celebration on May 9 as part of Russian propaganda and an attempt to justify its invasion of Ukraine, and therefore we believe that we should refrain from legitimizing this war in any way and abstain from attending this celebration,” said spokesperson Paula Pinho at a press conference.

She added that this applies not only to candidate countries but even more so to EU member states, which agreed on this stance back in 2022.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced that they would participate in the celebration in Moscow.

Enlargement spokesperson Guillaume Mercier said that Serbia needs to confirm what its strategic orientation is.

“The European Union has been crystal clear with our partners, including candidate countries like Serbia, that relations with Russia cannot be normal,” Mercier stated.

When asked if there would be any consequences for Serbia, he said it is too early to speculate on that at this moment. (April 24, 2025)