[ 16 March 2015 15:34 ]



Baku – APA. President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, was invited to the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany May 9, 2015 in Moscow, but did not intend to go to Russia. This was a Pole Tusk said in an interview with Gazeta Wyborcza and five other European newspapers, APA reports.

"I received an invitation, but I will not go to Moscow to celebrate the May 9 anniversary of the end of World War II. The presence of the military parade held by the current occupants and people using weapons against the civilian population in eastern Ukraine, it would be for me to put it mildly, very controversial "- said the President of the European Council.

 

On March 12, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that she would not attend the Victory Day parade in Moscow.

 

Chancellor’s spokesman Steffen Seibert said Merkel came to such a decision a couple of days ago in connection with the Ukrainian crisis and Russia’s involvement in it: “If Merkel visited Moscow on 9 May, it would be an insult against the Ukrainian government”.

 

Nonetheless, on May 10, Merkel will head to Moscow in order to prevent possible resentment and will alongside Vladimir Putin lay down a wreath at the grave of an unknown soldier.

 

Earlier, the leaders of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia also refused to go to Moscow to celebrate the Victory Day. French President Francois Hollande and British Premier David Cameron have not yet confirmed their participation in the parade.

 

It was reported on December 2014 that US President Barack Obama also rejected to participate in the Victory Day parade.