Helsinki and Stockholm turn back on V-Day celebration in Moscow
Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg’s decision to skip the Red Square military parade on May 9 is now followed by both Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö.
The refusals to attend the 70th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany together with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in Moscow comes due to the Ukraine conflict and tense situation between Russia and the West.
Putin sent invitations to 68 world leaders to overlook the parade with him. Norway’s Erna Solberg was the first of the Scandinavian leaders to turn down the invitation, as reported by BarentsObserver.
“The reason why Löfen abstains from going to Moscow is Russia’s policy towards Ukraine, the Prime Minister’s press secretary Anne Ekberg, says to Svenska Dagbladet.
No other ministers from Sweden will attend the celebration, but Sweden’s Ambassador to Moscow will represent the country during the parade.
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö’s office informed Moscow in late March about the decision, reports YLE.
In addition to the state leaders from Finland, Sweden and Norway, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister British Prime Minister David Cameron has also declined the May 9th invitation to Moscow. The leaders of Poland, USA and the Baltic states are also boycotting. So are European Council President Donald Tusk and Netherland’s Prime Minister.
The Kremlin operated newsagency Sputnik reports that Cuba, China, India and North Korea have confirmed their intent to arrive in Moscow.
