Bratislava - Slovakia's premier said Monday he would take part in May 9 events in Moscow to mark the 70th anniversary of victory in World War II, which Western leaders have largely snubbed over Russia's role in the Ukraine conflict.
"If someone has a problem with this, I'm not ashamed. This is history," Prime Minister Robert Fico told reporters in Bratislava.
The premier of the EU-member nation last year spoke out against extending EU sanctions on Moscow and is a close ally of pro-Russian Czech Republic president Milos Zeman.
Fico's official programme includes a meeting in Moscow with Zeman who is also attending.
Zeman said earlier he would skip Russian President Vladimir Putin's showcase military parade on May 9 to meet Fico instead -- a decision that came after criticism from the US ambassador to the Czech Republic.
Ambassador Andrew Schapiro had questioned Zeman's wish to be "probably the only EU head of state" to attend the parade on Moscow's Red Square.
Fico and Zeman, whose countries formed Czechoslovakia until its peaceful split in 1993, will lay wreaths at an unknown soldier's memorial in Moscow, before attending a reception at the Kremlin.
They are among a handful of world leaders set to attend the event, including Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, United Nations head Ban Ki-moon and the leaders of Cuba, India, Mongolia, Serbia, South Africa and Vietnam. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is also expected.
Most Western leaders have given Putin the cold shoulder while German Chancellor Angela Merkel has promised to visit Moscow on May 10.
AFP
