Ukrainian government invites EU officials to Kyiv on 9 May to counter Putin's military parade

The Ukrainian government has invited senior European officials to Kyiv on 9 May to demonstrate diplomatic unity in contrast to Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s annual military parade in Moscow on the same day.

Source: Politico, as reported by European Pravda

Details: On 14 April, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha extended the invitation to his EU counterparts during a meeting in Luxembourg, urging them to "show our unity and resolve in the face of the biggest aggression in Europe since the Second World War".

Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is hoping to host coalition leaders on 9 May who are ready to "determine security guarantees" for Ukraine, once a ceasefire agreement with Russia is reached, Sybiha added.

Although he did not specify the location of the planned meeting, two EU diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity said that a visit to Ukraine in early May by heads of state – including incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz – is under discussion.

Russian media report that the Kremlin leader has invited the leaders of Israel, China, Brazil, Slovakia and Serbia to join him in Moscow for the 80th anniversary celebrations marking the end of the Second World War. He did not invite the US or most EU member states.

Background:

• Former US President George W. Bush and then French President Jacques Chirac attended the Red Square military parade in Moscow in 2005, but in recent years no Western leader has been present at the event.
• The European Union has explicitly instructed candidate countries not to attend the parade in Moscow on 9 May or make any visits to Russia.
• Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has stated that he considers it his "personal duty" to go to Moscow on 9 May 2025 and claims that Slovaks understand his decision.

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