Slovakians Attend the 80th Anniversary of Victory Day in Moscow and the Diplomatic Tensions in EU
The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II was marked by significant commemorations worldwide. However, for some countries, particularly within the European Union, this anniversary took on a particularly tense tone, given the geopolitical climate and Russia’s role in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. European Union foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, made a notable decision to forbid EU member states and candidate countries from attending Moscow’s May 9th celebrations. This diplomatic stance, coupled with actions from individual countries like Lithuania and Latvia, heightened tensions within the EU and with Russia, showcasing the evolving nature of European foreign policy amid the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe.
Historical Context of the Role of the Soviet Union in World War II
For Russia, the anniversary of the war’s end is traditionally seen as a symbol of victory and national pride. Moscow has held large parades to celebrate this victory, which, for decades, have been a central event in Russia’s national consciousness. The celebrations on May 9th, 2025, were expected to be particularly symbolic, as it marked the 80th anniversary of the war’s conclusion.
However, for many countries in Eastern and Central Europe, Russia’s actions since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 have redefined their perception of the commemorations. The Soviet legacy, once celebrated by many former Eastern Bloc countries, is now viewed through a more critical lens, given Russia’s actions in Ukraine and its strained relations with the West.
Slovakia Forced to Reroute Its Government Plane
Despite Slovakia’s government plane having year-round permission to fly through Estonian airspace, Estonia refused to allow the plane to use its airspace for the May 9th Victory Day trip. In retaliation, Slovakia’s plane had to reroute, flying over Hungary, Romania, and Georgia before entering Russian airspace.
This incident highlights the challenges that smaller EU member states face when navigating the complex web of European politics.
Fico’s Position: Respecting the Soviet Contribution to Slovakia’s Liberation
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico unlike many of his EU counterparts, attended the Moscow Victory Day parade. Fico’s stance was rooted in historical memory that the Soviet Union’s involvement in Slovakia’s liberation was seen as a decisive factor in ending the Nazi occupation. For Fico and his supporters and some other political figures in Slovakia, this history remains significant, especially for the older generations who remember the Soviet victory over fascism. Fico’s position for attending the Victory Day May 9th parade in Moscow, is recognizing of the historical contribution and to pay homage to thousands of Red Army soldiers who died when liberating Slovakia and the importance of historical memory that the Soviet contribution to the defeat of fascism should not be overshadowed by present-day political conflicts. He argue that the victory over Nazism transcended contemporary geopolitical divisions and was a shared achievement for the people of Europe, including Slovakia. Fico also noted that the historical context of the Soviet role in Slovakia’s liberation should not be forgotten or rewritten, despite the current tensions with Russia.
His decision to attend the Moscow event was met with both support and criticism. On one hand, there were those within Slovakia who believed that acknowledging the Soviet contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany was essential to maintaining national pride and historical accuracy. On the other hand, critics within Slovakia and abroad saw Fico’s decision as an implicit endorsement of Russia’s actions in Ukraine and a failure to recognize the current political realities, particularly the annexation of Crimea and Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Fico’s Call for Peace Talks and Gas Supply
Alongside his stance on historical memory, Fico also expressed strong support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. While Slovakia is a member of the EU and has been aligned with Western sanctions against Russia, Fico emphasized the importance of pursuing diplomatic efforts and peace talks to end the war in Ukraine. He argued that Slovakia, as a neighbour to Ukraine, had a vested interest in seeing the conflict resolved through dialogue rather than prolonged warfare. This stance reflected Fico’s broader foreign policy philosophy, which advocates for balance and pragmatism in the face of international conflicts.
Fico’s call for peace talks was also tied to Slovakia’s economic interests, particularly with respect to energy supplies. Slovakia, like many European countries, is heavily reliant on Russian natural gas, a significant portion of which flows through Ukraine. The continued disruption of gas transit through Ukraine have severe economic consequences for Slovakia, for both domestic consumption and industrial use. Given the importance of maintaining a stable energy supply, Fico urged for efforts to ensure that gas transit through Ukraine should be uninterrupted, to prevent destabilizing Slovakia’s economy and undermine its energy security.
The EU’s Position: Diplomatic Isolation of Russia
The European Union’s response to the May 9th celebrations was unequivocal. Kaja Kallas, as the EU’s foreign policy chief, imposed a ban on EU member states and candidate countries attending the Moscow event. This move was a direct reflection of the EU’s political stance toward Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. The EU has imposed a range of sanctions on Russia, aimed at crippling its economy and punishing it for its actions in Ukraine. This diplomatic exclusion of Russia from international events such as the May 9th commemorations serves as a continuation of the EU’s broader strategy of isolating Russia diplomatically.
Lithuania and Latvia: A Strong Stance Against Moscow
Lithuania and Latvia, both demonstrated their opposition to Victory Day in Moscow. Lithuania closed its airspace to Slovakia’s government plane, preventing it from flying over Lithuanian territory en route to Moscow. Latvia, likewise, prohibited flights bound for the May 9th parade. These moves were symbolic of the growing animosity between Russia and its Baltic neighbours.
Lithuania and Latvia’s actions were grounded in their strong opposition to Russia’s ongoing actions in Ukraine. The Baltic states, which have been vocal in their support for Ukraine, view Russia’s policies as a direct threat to regional stability. For these countries, any form of engagement with Russia, even for a historical commemoration, was seen as endorsement of its actions. By closing airspace and denying access, Lithuania and Latvia sought to ensure that their national positions on Russia were clear and that they would not be complicit in an event that, in their view, glorified a Russia that had not changed its behaviour since the days of the Soviet Union.
The Broader Implications for European Foreign Policy
The events surrounding the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II reflect deeper shifts in European foreign policy. The EU’s unity in opposing Russia is more critical than ever, especially in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, the situation also reveals fractures within the EU, as countries with differing historical, political and economical relationships with Russia make divergent decisions on how to approach Moscow. On of them is Hungary. Viktor Orbán compared Hungary’s EU membership to the Soviet occupation of his country during a speech in the city of Veszprem commemorating the anniversary of Hungary’s 1956 uprising against Soviet rule.
“Today, things pop up that remind us of the Soviet times. Yes, it happens that history repeats itself. Fortunately, what once was tragedy is now a comedy at best. Fortunately, Brussels is not Moscow. Moscow was a tragedy. Brussels is just a bad contemporary parody. We had to dance to the tune that Moscow whistled, Brussels whistles too, but we dance as we want to, and if we don’t want to, then we don’t dance.”
The differing responses from Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia and Hungary raise important questions not only about the future of European solidarity and the EU’s ability to maintain a unified foreign policy mean that EU autocrats will abolish members foreign minister departments.
