PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned the presence of global leaders at Moscow’s Victory Day parade on Friday, expressing deep concern over their attendance.
Leaders face backlash for applauding Putin
Tusk described the attendance of international officials and their applause for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who spoke about a so-called Nazi purge in Ukraine, as “a disgrace.” He emphasized that those who attended were “refusing to see the truth” about the ongoing conflict.
Among the more than 20 world leaders present were Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who joined Putin in Red Square for the celebrations. This gathering has drawn sharp criticism from officials within the European Union. Notably, Chinese President Xi Jinping was also in attendance, amidst heightened security measures in Moscow.
Calls for accountability amid rising tensions
Before the military parade commenced, Putin welcomed both Fico and Vučić to the Kremlin, signaling solidarity. While Macron and Tusk refrained from explicitly naming European leaders who attended, their criticism was unmistakably directed at them.
“I’m not sure that [attending the parade] was the best thing to do on May 9 and not the best reading of the 21st century,” said Macron.
In his remarks, Tusk highlighted the irony of celebrating soldiers who would later engage in acts of aggression against innocent civilians in Ukraine, calling it “a disgrace.”
Macron and Tusk were in the French city of Nancy to formalize a bilateral treaty aimed at enhancing defense and security collaboration between their nations. This agreement includes a mutual defense obligation in the event of an attack, reinforcing the alliance in light of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
Moreover, Macron countered those positioning Moscow and Brussels as rival forces vying for dominance in Europe. On the same day, several Western ministers and high-ranking diplomats, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, and U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy, traveled to Ukraine to pay tribute to the victims of Russian aggression.
“Many compare Moscow and Brussels, I’ve heard that … But Moscow is a capital that has been imposed whereas Brussels is a capital that has been freely chosen through our treaties,” said Macron.