Five members of the European Parliament, including two representing Germany’s left-wing populist Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), are taking the opportunity to travel to Moscow during the unilateral Russian ceasefire for Victory Day. Party leader Sahra Wagenknecht confirmed a Spiegel report that MEPs Ruth Firmenich and Michael von der Schulenburg are traveling to Moscow.
In a press release, the MEPs said they intend to “hold talks with parliamentarians and other representatives from politics and culture” to emphasize “that we consider talks and exchanges at all levels to be necessary in order to overcome the ever-increasing spiral of confrontation and escalation in Europe.”
The press release also said that with their visit, the MEPs wanted to “send a signal that we want the weapons in Ukraine to fall silent permanently” and that a continued war, as encouraged by the EU, would be disastrous.
Wagenknecht said Firmenich “is going to Moscow to lay a wreath at the monument to the Unknown Soldier in honor of the 80th anniversary of liberation. I don’t know what would be worthy of criticism about this. She will not take part in a military parade or similar government appointments.”
Three MEPs from Czechia, Slovakia, and Cyprus were reportedly also expected to travel to Moscow for the events, but their names were not known at the time of writing.
EU top names have previously threatened politicians planning to attend the Russian Victory Day celebrations with severe consequences. The Baltic states and Poland also this week played “can’t use our airspace” games with Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vučić, and Slovakia’s PM, Robert Fico, who had both announced their intent to participate in the Moscow commemoration.
Fico previously said on social media, “Mrs. Kallas, I would like to inform you that I am the legitimate prime minister of Slovakia—a sovereign country. No one can tell me where to or not to travel.” Vučić, who arrived in Moscow on Wednesday, said he would “take the punishment upon himself” and that Serbia would remain “on the European path.”
