Overview

• EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas has urged European leaders to boycott Moscow's May 9 military parade, emphasizing solidarity with Ukraine during Russia's ongoing war in Europe.
• Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico has confirmed his attendance at the parade, rejecting EU warnings and asserting his sovereign right to honor the Red Army's role in WWII.
• Serbia faces potential EU accession consequences if its president attends the Moscow celebrations, with European officials warning such a move could derail membership ambitions.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited leaders from China, India, Brazil, Slovakia, and Serbia to the parade, positioning the event as a showcase of military and historical symbolism.
• A U.S. envoy has reported that Putin is seeking a 'permanent peace' deal with Ukraine, signaling possible progress in negotiations to end the conflict.