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Russia welcomes foreign guests who keep memory of Victory in Great Patriotic War — Kremlin

Vladimir Putin said at an end-of-year news conference that Russia would be happy to see everyone in Moscow on May 9, 2025, to celebrate the victory’s 80th anniversary, including representatives of its World War II allies

MOSCOW, December 23. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will be pleased to see all foreign visitors who understand the significance of Victory Day for the world at the celebration in Moscow on May 9, 2025, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin will of course be pleased to see both [Slovak Prime Minister Robert] Fico and everyone who is ready to share with us the memory of the Victory [in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War] and the importance of this Great Victory for the world," the Kremlin spokesman said.

Peskov recalled that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who met with Putin in Moscow on Sunday, "made a pledge [to attend the Victory Parade on Moscow’s Red Square next May] even prior to his arrival [to the Russian capital]." The topic of the upcoming celebration was "certainly discussed" during the conversation between the Russian leader and the Slovak prime minister, Peskov noted.

Putin said at an end-of-year news conference that Russia would be happy to see everyone in Moscow on May 9, 2025, to celebrate the victory’s 80th anniversary, including representatives of its World War II allies. He pointed out that other countries attempt to forget what sacrifices were made to defeat Nazism, but Russia will always remember those sacrifices. According to the president, he is "open to everyone who wants to be in Moscow during those days," but issues like this are handled by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told TASS that Russia plans to invite representatives of the other World War II allies to the celebration of the victory’s 80th anniversary in Moscow on May 9, 2025. The diplomat recalled that every year the May 9 events are attended by representatives of countries from the anti-Hitler coalition, including veterans, prominent political and public figures.

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