Western European media are reporting on the Victory Day parade in Moscow, with some headlines and photos titled “Fico and Vučić in the Stands” and commentaries questioning the potential consequences for the leaders of Slovakia and Serbia.
The German portal Deutsche Welle raises the question of whether Vučić’s stay in Moscow was “a consolation prize after the failure of his US tour, or a genuine pro-Russian sentiment on his European path?“
Deutsche Welle cites an analyst from Belgrade, noting that after the failure of Vučić’s visit to the United States, it became clear that avoiding Russia would further complicate the Serbian regime’s foreign policy position.
The report emphasizes that Vučić is mindful of his electoral base and the pro-Russian sentiment among Serbian citizens. Naim Leo Beširi, director of the Belgrade Institute for European Affairs, states that “those in Moscow are dictators and autocrats, thus Vučić is justifying the radical image from the 1990s.”
“It is now clear to everyone,” Beširi concludes, “that the stories about European integration are mere lies, designed to keep him in power and allow his circle to enrich itself.”
The Latvian newspaper Latvijas Avīze believes that “those who traveled to Moscow clearly expressed support for the aggressor in the Ukrainian war.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian media outlet Dserkako Tišnja views the Moscow Victory Parade as a reflection of global shifts, with countries balancing their interests between the US, China, and Russia.
Italian newspaper La Repubblica reports that “Vučić and Fico were at the heroic Victory Day in Moscow,” noting the presence of leaders from about thirty countries, including China’s Xi Jinping, as well as leaders from former Soviet republics, Brazil, Egypt, Cuba, Vietnam, and Venezuela.
All analyses highlight that Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a mild message, once again portrayed Russia’s “special operation” in Ukraine as a continuation of the fight against Nazism that was defeated in World War II.
Italian daily Corriere della Sera points out that during previous Victory Day celebrations, Putin emphasized Russia’s battle against American hegemony, but this time, he did not mention the US even once.
The article also notes that Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow clearly solidified China’s strong alliance with Donald Trump, tightening Russia’s ties to China while limiting its ability to engage with new American allies.
