Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has not changed his mind and will attend the Victory Day parade in Moscow next month, despite serious pressure from the European Union. This is reported by the Associated Press, News.bg reports.
European officials have warned Vucic that his participation in the World War II commemoration in Moscow could violate Serbia's EU membership criteria and question the country's ambitions to join the bloc.
Vucic, who often expresses pro-Russian views, said that a Serbian military unit would take part in the May 9 parade on Red Square in the Russian capital. He noted that for the first time, Serbia will be part of the joint organization of the event.
Earlier this week, the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaia Kallas, said that the EU had made it clear that it did not want any candidate country to participate in the May 9 parade.
Despite claiming to want Serbia to join the EU, Vucic maintains close ties with Russia and has refused to impose Western sanctions on Moscow. These policies have significantly slowed down the Balkan country's accession talks.
Another European leader, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, has also announced that he will participate in the May 9 parade in Moscow.